Brief
Between July 1998 and October 1999, the Center on Fathers, Families, and Public Policy (CFFPP) held a series of colloquia that focused on the experiences of low-income fathers as they negotiate the systems of paternity establishment and child support enforcement. The meetings were attended by low-income, mostly never-married noncustodial fathers, caseworkers from community-based organizations who work with low-income, never-married noncustodial fathers, researchers, policy analysts, and poverty lawyers whose work has centered on low-income noncustodial fathers and their families. The…
The mission of the Fatherhood Movement is to reestablish the relationships between fathers and their children that are necessary for a strong society. This book examines the reasons why contemporary fathers are not involved in family life from the historical, social, economic, and spiritual perspectives. Written by experts from a wide range of disciplines, the chapters recommend actions that can be taken by individuals, organizations, and government agencies to engage fathers and support their families. Topics include the development of the Fatherhood Movement, the importance of fathers, the…
This study was designed to explore possible differences between adoptive and biological fathers in terms of how much they enjoyed being involved in child care and child rearing activities with their young children. Anonymous questionnaires were returned by 85 adoptive and 98 biological first-time fathers with one child age three or younger. The results indicated that adoptive fathers derived greater enjoyment from their involvement in their children's lives than did biological fathers. Interestingly, the two most significant items were enjoy caring for a dependent human being and enjoy…
Designed for parents, youth workers, and teachers, this book explores the complex interplay between the cultural forces that are molding and shaping the values, attitudes, and behaviors of youth. Section 1 discusses the characteristics of adolescents, how the Bible can help parents raising their children, and societal trends impacting adolescents. Section 2 describes how the media and music impact teens. Chapters explain how music molds adolescents, what the media is teaching teens, and how parents can lead their children through the maze of music and the media. The types of pressures…
Designed for parents, this book provides strategies for parents to use to mentor their children's development. It begins with a discussion on the importance of discovering the talents of a child, what is meant by mentoring, and using everyday activities for mentoring opportunities. Chapters 1 and 2 discuss the raising and nurturing of children, finding teachable moments, and the need to appreciate individuality, respect choices, encourage interests, and provide responsible guidance and supervision. Chapters 3 and 4 describe how parents can be on the lookout for identifying strengths in a…
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Journal Article This article examines the result of a long-term disregard of the needs of fathers by public policy and social programs. Historically, federal and state laws and welfare regulations have created barriers and disincentives for the involvement of fathers in the lives of their children. Federal assistance for the poor often focused on children and custodial parents, elderly persons, and disabled persons. Able-bodied men, including noncustodial fathers, were not eligible for benefits such as public or subsidized housing, Medicare, or food stamps. These policies lead to situations in which…
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Journal Article The attitudes of adoptive fathers toward the birth fathers of their adopted children were examined in this study. One hundred thirteen adoptive fathers answered a questionnaire about their infertility history, the adoption experience, source of information about the birth father of their child, type of adoption, frequency and topics of thoughts about the birth father, and the influence of the adoptive parents and the birth parents on the characteristics of the child. Level of attachment was also discussed. Respondents reported that pre- adoption preparation and social workers contributed the…
This working paper explores the role of fathers and father-child relationships in the psychosocial development of adolescents by examining outcomes data from National Longitudinal Survey of Youth (NLSY) files on children and mothers. The survey uses a number of measures to evaluate child development and well being; other characteristics of children and mothers; information about family structure and household makeup; family income, home environment, and other sociodemographic factors; as well as children's perceptions of their mother, father, and or/step father. The initial survey was…
Concerns about the increase in fatherless families and the negative effects on children led to calls for social change from politicians, several national commissions, and a variety of articles and books. By the end of the 1990s, there were indications that a fatherhood movement was being formed as conferences were sponsored by organizations at the national, state, and local levels. This chapter evaluates whether recent actions to promote fatherhood represent a social movement, in terms of the identification of a core idea, the broad appeal of the issue, the distinction of the movement from…
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This 100-minute videotape presents a one-act play that stars a father who uses six letters to his son to discuss relationships, careers, and dreams. The transition to manhood and the responsibilities of life as a husband and a father are addressed.
