Why Listening to Dads Matters for Family Health

When people talk about maternal health and infant well-being, dads are often left out of the picture. This is not because fathers are uninvolved. It is because many systems were not built to include them in meaningful ways.

At BCDI- Ohio, we believe improving maternal health and infant well-being requires listening to the people living these experiences every day. That includes dads, father figures, male caregivers, and co-parents.

Over the past few years, BCDI-Ohio has conducted listening sessions with fathers across the state to better understand their experiences, needs, and concerns. We have been listening directly to dads about what is working, what is not, and what support would make the biggest difference for their families. These conversations are captured in our report, Every Voice Belongs at the Table, which can be found here.

Across Ohio, dads are supporting their families in real and everyday ways. They care for babies, attend appointments, learn new routines at home, and are present during some of the most important moments in their children’s lives. Their involvement matters for both parents and babies.

We also recognize that not every dad has the same access to time, resources, or support. Factors like work schedules, transportation, clinic hours, and past experiences with schools or health care can shape how involved someone is able to be. These challenges are closely connected to the biases that dads face.

We know that when dads are included, families benefit. We also know that when their voices are left out of the conversation, important knowledge is lost. Fathers and male caregivers see things that do not always show up in reports or meetings. They know what helps them stay involved and what makes it harder. They know what kind of support would make a real difference for their families. Their voices and their experiences matter. 

Family health is deeply connected to whether families have access to information, care, and support that fit their lives. Policies and programs are stronger when they are shaped by real experiences. Hearing directly from dads helps highlight what is working, what is missing, and what needs to change so families and communities can thrive.

That is why BCDI-Ohio is inviting dads and caregivers across the state to take part in a new survey. The survey asks about experiences as a parent or caregiver, involvement in children’s lives and health, access to education and support, barriers families face, and how policies affect families.

We want to make sure dads’ voices are part of the conversations that shape programs, systems, and policies for families in Ohio.

If you are a dad, father figure, male caregiver, or co-parent, we invite you to share your experience.

Take the BCDI-Ohio Dad and Caregiver Survey here

Your voice matters, and your experience can help improve support for families across Ohio.