Our member Kirkkopalvelut ry has published a new blog highlighting the wider impact that supporting fathers can have on families, children and communities.
In the article “Yhden isän ympärillä on kokonainen rihmasto” (“Around One Father Is an Entire Network”), Mari Ahtiainen from the Erityisesti isä initiative compares family relationships to the hidden network beneath a forest. A father may appear to be one individual, but around him are children, partners or former partners, parents, friends and sometimes grandchildren. What happens to one person can therefore affect many others.
The article particularly focuses on fathers affected by substance-related challenges. It stresses the importance of meeting fathers with respect and without stigma, creating space for them to speak, seek support and strengthen their role as fathers. Even small changes, such as reconnecting with a child or being present during an important moment, can have a wider positive impact on family relationships.
The message is simple but important: supporting a father is rarely about supporting only one person. Strengthening one part of a family network can contribute to stronger relationships, greater well-being and positive change that reaches far beyond the individual.
Read the full article by Kirkkopalvelut ry:
Yhden isän ympärillä on kokonainen rihmasto