Strong Fathers Strong Families.
A father figure is an essential factor in a child’s development, most notably in her early stages of development. A father, just like a mother, is important for a child. That is why a child is born of both parents and not one of them. That is why they all should be present in the life of the child without failure, unless for unavoidable circumstances such as death. Different organizations have come up to support fathers in being present in their children’s life through different situations. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders are a group in Australian society that is aimed at valuing roles played by fathers as parents. This is because western medicine has not fully appreciated the role of fatherhood (Reilly & Rees, 2017). Therefore, the Australian government came up with the initiative “Strong fathers strong families,” to collaboratively with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander fathers to support the critical role they are playing in the society.
Fathers, through this initiative, are fully encouraged to be present and active throughout their children’s life. When fatherhood is promoted in men, it also helps in the determination of social determinants in the well-being of men. Therefore, men need to be shaped and natured well, just like mothers on things to with childcare and upbringing. Thus, the Australian government is complementing and challenging all the other communities to emulate the fatherhood roles the same and the even better way the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander fathers are doing.
The aims of this program are mainly supporting and encouraging the roles of fatherhood in society, especially in the early developmental stages of a child (The Lowitja Institute,’ 2019). Therefore, the first aim of the program is to ensure that the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander fathers and other males,s have sufficient access to health care services that are culturally accepted. And together with other essential health messages that talk about antenatal and parental care programs (The Lowitja Institute,’ 2019). The social health determinant being targeted here is “healthy child development (Health Stats, 2020).” This is because rather than just focusing on the fatherhood roles, they are also following culturally accepted health standards that meet the health requirements of child care. “A healthy family is a healthy nation.’
The second aim focuses on improving the ability of the targeted males to positively and impactfully contribute towards the healthy and positive wellbeing of their pregnant female while, in turn, they are nurturing a suitable environment that is supportive for the growth of the child (The Lowitja Institute,’ 2019). Therefore, the social determinant of health being targeted here is “income and social status,” in that; the male figure should be able to provide a good environment that supports both the pregnant mother towards delivery and the development of the infant. Without income, then it becomes harder for a man to fulfill this objective (The Lowitja Institute,’ 2019). Another determinant of health being applied here is the factor of the physical environment, which is immediate to both the mother and the child and should be standard enough to meet their needs.
The final aim is that the males (father figures) are being encouraged to support the need of the child as they develop fully. They should be primary role models to the children as they fully engage in their early life. However, it should appropriately meet the condition in context as per community and cultural needs and practices. Therefore, different health determinants are being targeted here, just like the other aims, and they include Culture, social environments, and gender, among others (Health Stats, 2020).
Social determinants of health are important aspects of the community that works to improve access to health care with a resulting decrease in health care disparities (Artiga & Hinton, 2018). Therefore, this program targets different critical SDoH of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander males.’ To start with the social factor, the program opens several opportunities aimed at supporting and empowering men in their fatherhood roles. Secondly, education incentives are also directed for educating men on the importance of their fatherhood roles in the lives of their children. In-depth, men also need to be educated and reminded of their gender roles, most especially in some of the critical aspect of the society that has not been well captured such as fatherhood roles and its importance in the development of children
Additionally, community aspects have been gathered here since the program engaged various initiatives to work in collaboration for the support and success of this program. The health of men has also been discussed for their health and societal benefits. Therefore the norms of the community are being strengthened in support of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander males’ role towards promoting fatherhood. Finally, they all, in return, positively influence the general development of Islander children.
Furthermore, the promotion of health service in the islander society is being targeted to better the health of the men towards promoting the choices they make in their lives, which will help them act as role models to their children and towards the whole family and society at large. Therefore, this program targets important aspects of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander males that does not only aim at improving child development but also strengthening the social determinant of health in their community.
Health promotion initiatives act as a motivational factor for the men, especially those new in fatherhood and the grandfathers. Health promotion, for this case, will motivate them to take care of their children as they, too, take proper care of themselves. Additionally, among the activities, the program exposes the Aboriginal men getting health message information that will equip them with important knowledge as they will enjoy getting current information for both home and self-care.
According to this project, set and planned by the Australian government towards the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander males, it aims at improving critical areas of the society. Child development is an important family aspect that requires the efforts of both the father and the mother. Therefore, it is considered significant for both of them to play their fatherhood and motherhood roles. However, all these roles should be based on cultural and community goodwill. In that, they should not go against the recommended cultural techniques.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders have identifies the gap in the society, left out by the Western culture, to bring out and support the roles of fatherhood in child development. Therefore, the Australian government supports and encourages their incentives and have come up with the “Strong Fathers Strong Families” program to encourage them through focusing on the critical social determinants of health that will benefit the society at large.
Conclusion.
The social determinants of health in the program will ensure that the fatherhood roles are encouraged among every male in the community. The project involves different targeted participants who will ultimately benefit since they will receive different forms of education on how to practice their roles. They will learn how to maintain proper health care for their pregnant women by providing health environments. Encouraging men in their roles will also have a significant impact because society today neglects the man. Finally, children of the Australian Islanders and Aboriginal families will all have improved health and a happy lifestyle to be emulated by different communities in the world. And such is the success of the “Strong fathers Strong Families initiative.”
References.
‘The Lowitja Institute’ – Australia’s National Institute for Aboriginal and Torres Strait
HWEL2002_Assessment 3 Brief Version2 09102019.Docx Version
Islander Health Research, http://www.lowitja.org.au/beyond-bandaids
Artiga, S., & Hinton, E. (2018). Beyond Health Care: The Role of Social Determinants in Promoting Health and Health Equity. The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. Retrieved 1 May 2020, from https://www.kff.org/disparities-policy/issue-brief/beyond-health-care-the-role-of-social-determinants-in-promoting-health-and-health-equity/.
Health Stats. (2020). Determinants Of Health. Simcoemuskokahealthstats.org. Retrieved 1 May 2020, from http://www.simcoemuskokahealthstats.org/topics/determinants-of-health.
Reilly, L., & Rees, S. (2017). Fatherhood in Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities: An Examination of Barriers and Opportunities to Strengthen the Male Parenting Role. American Journal of Men’s Health, 12(2), 420-430. https://doi.org/10.1177/1557988317735928