The experiences and needs of birth fathers in adoption: What we know now and some practice implications

Practice ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 61-71 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gary Clapton
Keyword(s):  
Birth Fathers

Absence and Ambivalence

2019 ◽  
pp. 341-364
Author(s):  
Abbie E. Goldberg
Keyword(s):  
Foster Care ◽  
Adoptive Parents ◽  
Birth Mothers ◽  
Parents And Children ◽  
Birth Fathers ◽  
Over Time

This chapter addresses birth fathers—but often in the context of their absence. Many adoptive parents did not appear to view birth fathers as symbolically or relationally as “important” as birth mothers. For some, this tendency persisted throughout their children’s lives. Others, though, became increasingly curious about their children’s birth fathers. Still others did enact relationships with birth fathers over time, and in some cases these were important relationships to parents and children. This chapter discusses these different patterns, with attention to how and why birth fathers are often “invisible” in adoption narratives. It also explores how adoptive parents talk about birth fathers and how this varies depending on whether parents adopted privately and domestically versus through foster care, and how it varies over time.

Birth Fathers' Lives after Adoption

2001 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
pp. 50-59 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gary Clapton
Keyword(s):  
Birth Fathers

scholarly journals Being a Resource for Both Mother and Child

2011 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 91-99 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kerstin Erlandsson ◽  
Helena Lindgren
Keyword(s):  
Content Analysis ◽  
Emotional Engagement ◽  
Family Roles ◽  
Postnatal Ward ◽  
New Family ◽  
Mother And Child ◽  
Birth Fathers ◽  
At Home

The aim of this study was to describe fathers’ experiences of being present on a postnatal ward and during the first days at home following a complicated birth. Fifteen fathers were interviewed, and content analysis was used for the analysis. The theme illustrated that fathers were a resource for both mother and child through practical and emotional engagement. The categories describe how the father empowers the mother and illustrates adapting to new family roles. Following complicated birth, fathers should be invited to stay around-the-clock on postnatal wards because it gives them the opportunity to place their resources at the disposal of mother and child. In antenatal courses, fathers should be prepared for their empowering role after a complicated birth.

Birth Fathers, the Adoption Process and Fatherhood

1997 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 29-36 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gary Clapton
Keyword(s):  
Adoption Process ◽  
Birth Mothers ◽  
Ongoing Work ◽  
The Usa ◽  
Birth Fathers ◽  
Certain Answers ◽  
Key Questions

A great deal of research has been carried out on birth mothers and the intense grief and sense of loss they feel on giving up their children for adoption. Much less is known about the experiences of birth fathers. In turning his attention to this neglected group, Gary Clapton begins by surveying existing research, mainly in the USA and Australia. Based on this and his own ongoing work, charting and interpereting the experiences of some 25 men, he goes on to ask some key questions about the nature of fatherhood and how certain answers to these might have implications for current policies and practice.

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