In the past few decades, researchers and practitioners have moved towards a more diverse, inclusive conception of fatherhood. As well, they have developed valuable new strategies for cultivating the positive involvement of fathers in the lives of their children, even with such challenging populations as fathers livings in poverty or in prison.

This study draws on the innovative work of Prospère, a Quebec organization that brought together fathers, health and social service practitioners, and university researchers. It provides numerous examples of strategies and interventions with fathers, lessons learned from these practices on how to better support vulnerable fathers and families, and in-depth information on ways of designing, implementing, evaluating, and disseminating the results of participatory action research (PAR) – all with the goal of making fathers active partners in decision-making.

ANNIE DEVAULT is a professor in the Department of Social Work at l’Université du Québec en Outaouais.

GILLES FORGET is a PhD candidate in the School of Public Health and Social Work at the Queensland University of Technology. He was a health promotion officer in Montreal’s Public Health Department for more than twenty years.

DIANE DUBEAU is a professor in the Department of Psychoeducation and Psychology at l’Université du Québec en Outaouais.