'His mam, my dad, my girlfriend, loads of people used to bring him up': the value of social support for (ex) offender fathers

Walker, Liz

Abstract

This research analyses key findings from qualitative research conducted with (ex) offender fathers and their probation officers. This paper focuses on the critical role of family and social support for (ex) offender fathers who seek to build and maintain relationships with their children. The research reported in this paper shows that the men receive social support, both formal and informal from a wide ranging and complex network of family, friends and practitioners, which facilitates and enables their commitment to fathering. Drawing on social support theory, I argue that identification of support networks recognizes the productive possibilities of vulnerable families which constitute a source of strength and connection to be nurtured in contexts of adversity. This strengths-based paradigm advocates the need to identify and facilitate family, friendship and professional networks in the context of social work with offenders and their families.

Citation

Walker, L. (2010). 'His mam, my dad, my girlfriend, loads of people used to bring him up': the value of social support for (ex) offender fathers. Child & family social work, 15(2), 238-247. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2206.2009.00664.x

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Online Publication Date: Apr 12, 2010
• Publication Date: 2010-05
• Deposit Date: Nov 13, 2014
• Journal: Child & Family Social Work
• Print ISSN: 1356-7500
• Publisher: Wiley
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 15
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 238-247
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2206.2009.00664.x
• Keywords: Sociology and Political Science; Health(social science)
• Public URL: https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/460858
• Contract Date: Nov 13, 2014