Commission on Paternal Involvement in Pregnancy Outcomes (CPIPO)

Focusing on the Role of Expectant Fathers in Healthier Pregnancies and Babies

While much has been written about fathers' influence on child health and development, little is known about the male partners' influence on maternal health.  In keeping with the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies' mission to address a broad range of public policy issues of concern to African Americans and other people of color, and the Joint Center Health Policy Institute's mission to ignite a fair health movement, we have convened a new commission on Paternal Involvement in Pregnancy Outcomes (CPIPO).

CPIPO's purpose is to improve paternal involvement in pregnancy and family health by reframing debates and informing research, policy and practice to support greater  involvement of fathers in pregnancy.  The objectives of CPIPO are to: 1) identify programmatic barriers to improving men's preconception health and paternal involvement in pregnancy and suggest options for overcoming barriers; 2) develop standardized research, policy, educational and practice guidelines for improving paternal involvement in pregnancy outcomes and; 3) develop a national media strategy intended to shift the men's health focus to a more positive, direct, active and constructive role in the reproductive health agenda.