New survey is gauging the well-being of Maine fathers, who play a critical role in infant and maternal health

A growing body of research details the interconnected health of children and their caregivers. These connections are especially important during pregnancy and in the months after a child is born, when a newborn’s care and environment are guided solely by the adults around them. While an established survey of mothers’ health provides valuable insights to guide practice and policy during this formative period, a new resource is beginning to collect data on another critical factor in family health – the well-being of fathers.

How Are Fathers Doing?

For over 35 years, the national Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) survey has collected valuable information on mothers during and after pregnancy, offering insights into how their mental and physical health compares across years and states. By contrast, little is known about fathers, for whom there have been no comparable surveys – until recently.

“No one has a clear idea of what’s happening for dads at a statewide or national level, because we haven’t asked them yet,” said Dr. Craig Garfield, a pediatrician from Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago who leads PRAMS for Dads, a survey for fathers launched in 2018. “In caring for their babies and supporting their partners, dads have a critical impact. We shouldn’t lose sight of how important they are.”

In July 2025, Maine became the ninth state to implement the survey. With funding from the John T. Gorman Foundation and in partnership with the Maine CDC, the Lurie Children’s Hospital has begun conducting the Maine Fatherhood Survey, asking fathers with newborns about their health, economic circumstances and involvement during pregnancy and early parenting. Matched with data collected from mothers through the maternal PRAMS survey, the responses from fathers will help draw a fuller picture of family health. The team is aiming to release the first year of survey data in the fall of 2026.

Data to Support Fathers’ Role in Infant and Maternal Health

Dr. Garfield said the survey reflects a growing recognition of the positive influence engaged fathers have on the health and well-being of mothers and babies. Fathers can buffer stress and depressive feelings for mothers, help improve outcomes in breastfeeding and provide the safe and enriching environments young children need for their healthy development. The arrival of a child can also spark physiological and emotional changes in fathers themselves, Garfield said, providing a key moment for them to make healthy changes that benefit their families.

But without accurate information on their well-being, it is more difficult to identify effective strategies for addressing their challenges and supporting their role as parents, Garfield said. As PRAMS for Dads begins to fill this gap in other states, its data has great potential to inform public health initiatives and policies that benefit the well-being of whole families.

“As a practicing pediatrician, I’ve cared for thousands of babies. And over time I recognized that the most important influences on a child’s outcomes were the people who loved and cared for them,” Garfield said. “If we can support families and understand what their needs are, they can do best by their child.”