The ten-point action plan, launched in National Family Week, listschanges needed to improve the way services work with young fathers. TheInstitute says they are some of the most invisible, marginalised andvulnerable parents in the UK.
The Institute calls for midwives, health visitors and teenage pregnancysupport services to assess the needs of young fathers-to-be separately.It also wants the Government to come up with guidance for localservices, such as children's centres and Connexions, which it saysshould monitor how many young fathers they are engaging with and publishthe results.
The survey of 1,000 adults found that 93 per cent would like to seeservices that work with young mothers also include young fathers to helpthem develop close relationships with their children.
The same proportion said young fathers should be offered intensivesupport to help them be good fathers, and 88 per cent want them to begiven as much financial help to stay in education as young mothers.
Rob Williams, the Fatherhood Institute's new chief executive, said theresults were a 'welcome sign that attitudes towards young fathers arechanging'. He added, 'We are moving beyond the blame game, and thepublic now takes a pragmatic view and appreciates that for thechildren's sake, young dads as well as mums often need extra help.
'Some services already do a fantastic job. Our challenge now is to raisestandards across the board. The good news is that many of the changesneeded to support young fathers are easily achievable, and we would seetheir impact at once. It is crucial that engaging fathers should not bean optional extra.'