Dads Matter Act of 2024 · Congress.wiki

Legislation Details

The legislation mandates the Secretary of Health and Human Services to conduct a public awareness campaign focused on the importance of father inclusion and engagement in maternal and infant health.
The campaign aims to improve health outcomes during pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum periods for both mothers and babies.
Key findings highlight that father engagement can reduce maternal mortality and morbidity, improve prenatal care attendance, and enhance maternal behavioral health.
The campaign will provide information countering narratives that downplay the role of fathers in pregnancy and parenting.
It will promote awareness of the benefits of father involvement, including:
- Skin-to-skin contact with newborns.
- Support for maternal behavioral health.
- Increased attendance at prenatal and postpartum appointments.
- Awareness of potential pregnancy-related complications.
The Secretary is required to issue guidance to states within one year of enactment, encouraging maternity care providers to train practitioners on the benefits of father engagement.
The guidance will include strategies for providing support and education to fathers, addressing cultural beliefs about fatherhood, and reaffirming the positive role fathers can play.
A study by the Comptroller General is mandated to assess the effectiveness of the Act within six years of its enactment.