This article presents research results concerning the relationships young fathers have with social service organizations, in particular, those which offer assistance specifically tailored to young fathers' needs or those responsible for child and youth protection. These results are drawn from a broader qualitative study in which interview and focus-group data were collected from fathers who had had a child at an early age. A literature review first provides an overview of various facets of the experience of young fathers and of the services they need. The literature and the voices of young fathers together point to key issues, which are highlighted in the discussion.

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This article focuses on young fathers-to-be and how they fare throughout the pre-natal phase. It is based on research involving 30 future fathers whose partners would all be under 20 at the time of the projected birth date. What became particularly evident was their general willingness to fulfill paternal responsibilities onceLe dossier Reflets -Vol. 16, N o 1, printemps 2010 64 the pregnancy had been confirmed, despite such disadvantages as their young age, low levels of education, and the fact they had not yet had much time in which to forge a relationship with their respective partners. Through the application of the theory of psychosocial development, analysis of the interviews reveals that these fathers-to-be find meaning in their experience that serves as a counterbalance to the tensions that arise due to their youth, their socioeconomic reality, and to the heavy burden of responsibility that parenting will entail.