The Social and Family Research Network (SFRN) forum is a platform for academics, researchers as well as policy-makers and communities to participate in a multidisciplinary approach to social and family research through the sharing of new findings and developments. The discussion serves to provide a stronger evidence base for social and family policies and to identify new areas of interests and collaboration through these sessions. Find out more about SFRN here.

The upcoming forum will discuss the impact and influences of fathers and grandfathers on children’s development.  Their presence (or absence), have lasting influences over the success of values being handed down to future generations. Today, as the roles of fathers and grandfathers continue to evolve in Singapore, along with familial expectations and a rapidly-ageing population, the breadth of fatherhood is expanding.

What impact do the changing roles of fathers and grandfathers have on families with respect to the quality of their relationship and intergenerational connections; and how can policy or the shaping of societal perspectives better support fathers and grandfathers?

Invited speakers from the academic, policy and social work professions will share their experience and findings on the evolving roles and impact of fathers and grandfathers on children, and discuss the implications for public education and policy making. Issues that will be covered include how healthcare professionals and policymakers can support fathers entering parenthood, and the lasting influence grandfathers have on grandchildren.

Beyond information sharing, a major goal of the forum is to stimulate ideas for research as well as policies and programmes to assist stakeholders in their work. We look forward to your active participation in the forum.

As this is intended to be a closed-door forum, information and views disclosed and/or shared at the forum shall strictly not be disseminated, reported, published and/or shared in any media (including but not limited to social media such as blogging or tweeting) and/or in any form or manner whatsoever.

	Organised by:		Supported by:

Presentation 1

 

Dr Shefaly Shorey
Paternal Involvement of Singaporean Fathers Within Six Months Postpartum: A Descriptive Qualitative Study 

This study aims to understand fathers’ expectations, needs, and experiences in infant care during the postpartum period in Singapore. The discussion will cover the concerns and needs of fathers in accordance with the infants’ growth in different postpartum periods, and the necessary help from healthcare professionals and policymakers needed for fathers to assimilate to fatherhood.

Dr Shorey is an Assistant Professor at Alice Lee Centre for Nursing Studies, National University of Singapore. She has designed psychosocial and educational interventions for varied group of populations and her research studies involve national and international collaborations. Dr Shorey’s research focus is on enhancing health outcomes and quality of care amongst others. She has received various awards for her academic and research excellence and the findings of her research has been presented in national, regional and international conferences. She has also published in high impact factor journals.

Presentation 2

 

Mr Bryan Tan
The Father’s Heart

This presentation looks at fatherhood in Singapore and considers how it has changed over the years. It discusses the experiences and challenges of fathers today, as well as how voluntary welfare organisations such as Centre for Fathering and grassroots initiatives such as Dads for Life support fathers in their parenting journey.

Bryan is a passionate family life coach and the chief advocate for the national Dads for Life movement in Singapore. Currently serving as the Chief Executive Officer at Centre for Fathering, he holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical & Production), Masters of Science (Instructional Systems), and is pursuing a Masters of Divinity. He has more than 23 years of leadership, management and training development experience in the armed forces, public service and non-profit sector. He consults and coaches companies and individuals on leadership, strategy, training development, family life and human performance improvement.

Presentation 3

 

Dr Thang Leng Leng
What Matters for Grandfathers?  A Glimpse on Grandfatherhood through Chinese Grandfathers in Singapore

This presentation examines grandfathers’ involvement with their grandchildren in Singapore through the perceived roles and functions of grandfathers, taking into particular consideration cultural continuity, value transmission and its impact on the meaning making and practices of grandfatherhood. With data primary from 30 letters written by Chinese grandfathers in Singapore to their grandchildren published in “Letters from Grandma and Grandpa” (2008), three broad themes have emerged for discussion: heritage, value transmission, provision of care and support. 

Dr Thang is a socio-cultural anthropologist graduated with PhD (Anthropology) from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.  She is an associate professor at the National University of Singapore, and head of the Department of Japanese Studies at the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. She is also Deputy Director of the Faculty’s Centre for Family and Population Research and Fellow (Honorary) with the College of Alice and Peter Tan, National University of Singapore. Dr Thang’s research interests include ageing, intergenerational approaches and relationships, gender and family, with a focus on Asia, especially Japan and Singapore. She publishes widely in her area of expertise and is widely consulted by social services and agencies for her expertise on intergenerational programmes and approaches.

Moderator

 

Mr Tong Yee

Tong Yee started out as a public school teacher, teaching General Paper at Nanyang Junior College. After setting up a successful community outreach programme to provide tuition for repeat students in Singapore, he thereafter co-founded School of Thought to continue to promote educational innovation and civic learning in both the private and public sector. School of Thought has since evolved to become The Thought Collective, a growing group of social enterprises that focus on building social and emotional capital in Singapore. Besides School of Thought, The Thought Collective consists of Think Tank Publishing, a publishing arm that specialises in information design and curation; Thinkscape, a learning experience company that specialises in building cultural and institutional narratives; Food for Thought, a socially conscious restaurant business; and Common Ground, a social innovation consultancy that seeks to design sustainable solutions for today's most pressing problems.

Tong Yee currently serves as one of the three directors of The Thought Collective. He aims to optimise the organisation's strong cross-sector networks to design a new way forward, allowing Singaporeans to think, live and serve as a community. Some of Tong Yee’s present endeavors include leading a new prototype of family service centres, designing thought-provoking educational experiences through trail innovation, and initiating novel and compelling social movements in the hope of creating a more gracious and loving society.

GENERAL ENQUIRIES

Secretariat of SFRN

Email: MSF_SFRF_Secretariat@msf.gov.sg