3

For over a year I followed young disadvantaged parents, often minors, who are hosted in Parental Centers (centres parentaux) in Saint-Dié-des-Vosges (east of France). A new kind of centers in France.

Until now, Mother/Child Residential Program (centres maternels) offered a temporary shelter to young pregnant women and disadvantaged mothers... but the father – when he is present -– is never welcomed within the facilities. He is never allowed to live in those centers. An aberration.

The involvement of young fathers is underestimated by the social institutions. Even though specialists always emphasize that the presence of a father favors the emotional and intellectual development of the child. But things are about to change.

The ANCP (National Association for Parental Centers) advocates the transformation of “centres maternels” into Parental Centers, where the father could officially be taken care of. Three experimentations are currently ongoing, notably in Saint-Dié-des-Vosges. Results are positive, social workers witness a better balance in the couples’ relations, which directly benefits to the children.

I took photographs of the daily life of those parents, who, despite their very young age, made the choice to raise a child together. A life made of love, struggle, crisis, tenderness...

What drove me, beyond the intimate and personal questioning about fatherhood, is the fact that we are about to enter this new era in child protection in France.

Published in La Croix.