Fatherhood Research, Policy, and Mental Health: Dr. Tova Walsh on Why Fathers Must Be Included

In this episode of I Am Dad Podcast, host Kenneth Braswell welcomes Dr. Tova Walsh, Associate Professor at the Sandra Rosenbaum School of Social Work at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, for a deep and timely conversation about the evolving field of fatherhood research and the systems that still struggle to fully include fathers. Dr. Walsh began her career as a home visitor working with families during pregnancy and early childhood. In that role, she quickly noticed something many systems still overlook today: programs often use words like “family” and “parent,” but in practice, they are designed around mothers and babies while fathers are left out. This conversation explores how far fatherhood research has come, how far it still needs to go, and what it will take to build systems that treat fathers as essential to child and family wellbeing. Kenneth and Dr. Walsh discuss: • Why fatherhood research has grown dramatically over the last few decades • Why we no longer need to prove that fathers matter • How social work education still needs to better prepare practitioners to engage fathers • Why researchers must build real partnerships with fatherhood organizations and compensate fathers for their expertise • The need for stronger, more reliable fatherhood data • Why fatherhood needs a stronger national representative body or organizing infrastructure • How maternal and child health systems often leave fathers out by design • Why fathers should be included in prenatal care, pediatric care, and early childhood guidance • The importance of co-parenting support during the first year of a child’s life • How child support policy can harm low-income fathers and families when it is built around stereotypes • Why paternal mental health needs greater attention, especially during the transition to fatherhood • The emotional toll of child support debt, incarceration, unemployment, and relationship disruption • Whether father absence should be understood as an adverse childhood experience Dr. Walsh also reflects on her own family story, including how her father’s history and family trauma shaped her understanding of parenting, fatherhood, and the need to support men as whole people. This episode is a must-watch for fatherhood practitioners, researchers, social workers, policymakers, maternal and child health professionals, early childhood providers, child support leaders, family service organizations, and anyone committed to building stronger families by fully including fathers.

See All Episodes