Dads Matter Act of 2025

The proposed legislation mandates the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to implement a public awareness campaign within two years of enactment. This campaign will focus on increasing understanding of the vital role of fathers in improving overall health outcomes during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period for both mothers and babies. It aims to provide information about a father's role, counter narratives that minimize their importance, and promote awareness of their impact on maternal and infant well-being, including the benefits of father-to-infant skin-to-skin contact and their influence on maternal behavioral health . Additionally, the bill requires HHS to issue guidance to states within one year. This guidance will instruct states on how to encourage and incentivize maternity care providers and health care coverage entities to train practitioners, such as pediatricians and obstetricians, on the benefits of father inclusion. The guidance will detail how practitioners can offer peer support, provide fathers with comprehensive information on what to expect and how to advocate for their partners, and educate them on various aspects of maternal and infant care, including safe sleep and breastfeeding . Furthermore, the guidance will address screening fathers for depression and providing referrals for treatment, while also reaffirming a father's positive and valuable role regardless of race or ethnicity. Finally, the legislation mandates a study by the Government Accountability Office to assess the Act's effectiveness, with a report due within six years of enactment.