Service Providers’ Experiences Engaging Indigenous Fathers and Two-Spirit Parents With Young Children in Parenting Programs: An Interpretive Description

Healthy parenting is critical to the health of children and is often supported by prenatal and parenting programs. While numerous parenting programs exist for Indigenous families with young children, most do not meet the needs of men or Two-Spirit people. Participation of Indigenous fathers is typically low, and little is known about how service providers can engage Two-Spirit parents. This study aims to understand the experiences of service providers who deliver programming for expectant and parenting Indigenous fathers and Two-Spirit people to better engage parents in supportive programming that more effectively meet their needs to be successful parents. A community-led approach, along with Thorne's Interpretive Description methodology and the Two-Eyed Seeing framework, was used to understand the experiences of service providers delivering programs. Interviews and discussion groups were used to collect data concurrently with a collaborative approach to analysis. Findings are presented in a thematic summary comprised of four themes: (1) Relationality; (2) Role as Teacher; (3) Advocacy; and (4) Supporting Healing. The findings suggest that service providers should first build a trusting relationship with parents, provide activities, and use teaching strategies that more effectively engage men and Two-Spirit people in learning, while using a strengths-based and equitable approach. Findings demonstrate an urgent need to recruit men and Two-Spirit people as facilitators within organizations to deliver programming that is reflective of the clients they seek to serve.