H.R. 5828: Dads Matter Act of 2025

The Dads Matter Act of 2025 is a proposed legislation aimed at improving health outcomes for mothers and babies by promoting father engagement during the pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum periods. Here are the key components of the bill:

Public Awareness Campaign

The bill requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to launch a public awareness campaign within two years of its enactment. This campaign will focus on:

• Raising public understanding of the importance of fathers' involvement during pregnancy and childbirth.
• Providing resources that counter the negative stereotypes about fathers in parenting and pregnancy.
• Highlighting the benefits of father engagement for maternal and infant health outcomes.

Findings Supporting Father Engagement

The legislation outlines several findings, emphasizing that:

• Father involvement can significantly improve maternal health care and reduce risks related to maternal mortality and morbidity.
• Active participation of fathers increases prenatal care attendance among mothers.
• Fathers' support can lead to better mental health outcomes for mothers, lower risks of preterm births, and healthier birth weights.
• Encouraging father involvement helps reduce infant deaths by educating them on safe sleep practices and recognizing signs of infant distress.
• Father support during breastfeeding increases the likelihood of breastfeeding success, benefiting both mother and baby.

Guidance to States

The act also requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to provide guidance to states within one year of enactment. This guidance will focus on:

• Encouraging maternity care providers to integrate fathers into the care process.
• Training healthcare practitioners on the benefits of father engagement.
• Providing information and resources to fathers about their roles during pregnancy and parenthood, including how they can support their partners and advocate for maternal care.

Screening and Cultural Awareness

The guidance will address the importance of screening fathers for depression and ensuring they receive appropriate referrals for treatment. Moreover, it aims to challenge cultural beliefs about fatherhood and encourage a more positive perception of fathers' roles in pregnancy and child development across different communities.

Study on Effectiveness

Lastly, the bill mandates the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to conduct a study six years after the bill's enactment. This study would assess the effectiveness of the measures introduced by the act and provide a report to both the Senate and House committees concerned with health and education.

Relevant Companies

None found.