Role of fathers in the well-being of children impacted by the U.S. Child welfare system: Recommendations for practice and policy from a scoping review
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2025
Journal articles
Lee, J. Y., Yoon, S., Harty, J. S., Chang, Y., Cha, H., & Xu, A. Role of fathers in the well-being of children impacted by the U.S. Child welfare system: Recommendations for practice and policy from a scoping review. Child Welfare, 102(5), 1–38.
@article{lee2025, title = {Role of Fathers in the Well-Being of Children Impacted by the {U}.{S}. Child Welfare System: {Recommendations} for Practice and Policy from a Scoping Review}, author = {Lee, Joyce Y. and Yoon, Susan and {Harty, Justin S.} and Chang, Yujeong and Cha, Hunmin and Xu, Amy}, date = {2025}, journaltitle = {Child Welfare}, volume = {102}, number = {5}, pages = {1--38}, url = {https://www.jstor.org/stable/48815023}, }
Abstract
The goal of this scoping review was to summarize and synthesize empirical evidence on the link between father involvement and child well-being among children impacted by the U.S. child welfare system. Drawing from the ecological systems framework of investigating father-child relationships, we focused on multi-level socioecological factors that may shape father-child relationships and child outcomes. Results showed that the relevant evidence base is small (N = 9 studies), with studies showing generally mixed findings concerning the links between father involvement and child well-being. This work calls for more attention and engagement of fathers in child welfare research.