Chris Stein, CEO, Fathers´ Development Foundation
Today, 13th of March 2023, is the first day of a new chapter for me. I have taken a new challenge in the role of Interim CEO of the Fathers’ Development Foundation (FDF). My career has steadily moved in the direction of greater responsibility and I feel it is time for me to take this step. Of course I hold trepidation going into this space for the first time but just as Muhammad Ali proclaimed in “When We Were Kings” focussing on others is the key to great things. If I focus my energy on me and my journey as opposed to the objective of promoting the interest, needs and voices of fathers, or lose focus on working in partnership with women and organisations representing their needs, or lose humility and do not reach out for support when needed, or do not place the value on partnerships that are required for building systemic change, the chances of achieving the end goal of focussing on parental engagement to support children to thrive is a lot less likely to be achieved.
In order to move ideas into action for positive social change, the FDF was the culmination of discussions that had been happening with more that 60 organisations working with fathers and started with a membership of more than 100 organisations. Its primary goal was to support the issues and policy objectives of beneficiaries via those organisations as well as supporting the All Party Parliamentary Group on Fatherhood (APPG). As the organisation has grown organically, it has developed a clear set of multidisciplinary ideas that it believes can aid in the improvement of family policy. It is our belief that society must maximise opportunities for fathers to play a greater role in the upbringing of their children in order to achieve true equality. It is too often the case that mothers and fathers' interests are pitted against one another by organisations that regard gender debate as a zero-sum game.
My career background, working with children, young people, and families at various transitional moments of their lives such as from primary to secondary schools, those at risk of school exclusion, families with multiple and complex needs and young people in the criminal justice system, has afforded me first-hand experience of the challenges faced by families that are most marginalised and disadvantaged. I have also worked in the fields of men’s health and mental health, each providing me with the knowledge of particularities faced by some men and different challenges by various social demographics.
Personally, I am a father of two, which makes me deeply invested in the Fatherhood, child development and parenting spaces.
This is very much an introductory blog. In subsequent blogs, I will outline the goals and work plans of the FDF, giving agencies, funders and academics greater insight into the Foundation and where collaboration might prove beneficial for all.
Thank you for reading. Hopefully there is a spark of interest in the field of fatherhood and a deepening of enthusiasm for greater equality for all.