Overview

In the first video segment, The Stories, the birth fathers recall how it felt to find out about the pregnancy, the experience of relinquishment, and the painful aftermath. After the men share their stories, several adoption and health care professionals add their voices to the dialogue, serving to clarify the issues and point out implications for practice.

Consider the following questions after viewing this segment: Impact of Stereotypes about Birth Fathers

▶ Now that you've listened to the men's stories, what do you think about some of the stereotypes we identified earlier (the cad who abandoned the birth mother; the man as the villain, the woman as the victim, birth fathers are described variously as "missing in action," "shadowy figures," "roving inseminators," and "having their sport and moving on"?

▶ In what ways do these men confirm and/or disprove some of the myths about birth fathers?

▶ What common themes emerged as you watched the video?

Clinic/Agency Efforts to Include Men

▶ How well do you think your clinic or agency addresses the needs and rights of men who are facing an unintended pregnancy and/or have made an adoption plan?

▶ What could your agency or clinic do better? What would it take to make these changes happen?

▶ What can you do to improve your own practice? (Which steps will require changes on the part of your clinic or agency? Which steps can you implement on your own right away?)

Services to Birth Fathers

▶ How would the adopted child benefit from improved services to and increased involvement of birth fathers?

▶ How would the birth mother benefit from improved services to and increased involvement of birth fathers?

▶ How would the adoptive parents benefit from improved services to and increased involvement of birth fathers?

▶ How would the clinical or agency staff benefit from improved services to and increased involvement of birth fathers?