In 2022, the Steelcase Foundation awarded the Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago a three-year $620,203 grant to support the Kent County Fatherhood Survey, which will collect comprehensive data on men’s health and their experiences during the transition to fatherhood. Currently, the CDC’s annual PRAMS survey collects information about the experiences of mothers before, during, and the birth of a child, but the only question asked regarding fathers is whether they have been abused by their partner in the last 18 months, missing out on critical data regarding the links between paternal factors and pregnancy, maternal, and infant outcomes.
The Kent County Fatherhood survey will create, implement, and analyze a public health surveillance survey of families in Kent County, removing barriers and systemic impediments to understand fathers and families, with particular focus on fathers of children who are Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) or Hispanic. Once established, data from the KCFS will inform multi-generational support, advocacy, and engagement for families across Kent County.
Hear from project initiator Dr. Craig Garfield, MI Prams team members Jill Hardy and Kendra Smith, and Kent County leader Bo Torres as they share their insights into the work. Click here to learn more about the Kent County Fatherhood survey.
