Other
This practice guide draws on information gained from a research and assessment project by Prevent Child Abuse North Carolina that sought to identify key strategies for building the capacity and strength of North Carolina's fatherhood movement. The project involved the completion of a literature review on best practices and evidenced-based programs, an environmental scan of key national and local resources, and interviews with key stakeholders. Simultaneously, PCANC convened the Fatherhood Policy Committee, consisting of key stakeholders within State and community agencies that have been…
Other
This National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse Webinar, Effective Strategies for Working with Fathers Returning from Prison, held in July 2012 provided ideas and resources to guide work with fathers who are returning to the community from prison. The webinar included information on: Federal Department of Justice Prisoner Re-entry priorities, supports, and guidance; research findings from a review of Prisoner Re-entry programs; and, effective strategies and lessons learned from programs having success helping fathers who are returning from prison. Presenters included: Eugene Schneeberg…
Other
The "Head Start and Early Head Start Relationship-Based Competencies for Staff and Supervisors who Work with Families" (RBCs) is a technical assistance resource that outlines the knowledge, skills, and actions for staff working with families in Head Start and Early Head Start (HS/EHS) programs. This document is a tool to assist programs with implementing the Head Start Program Performance Standards and the Parent, Family, and Community Engagement (PFCE) Framework. (Author abstract)
Other
'Hiding in the Pub to Cutting the Cord' was a research project examining the ways in which men have been involved in childbirth over the last half century. Nowadays, it is estimated that over 90 per cent of dads are there to witness this major event, but in the 1950s, it was considered 'unmanly' for men to be there. Who was there when you were born? And who helped welcome your child into the world? The aim of the research was to uncover why such a dramatic change took place; what implications this had for fathers, mothers and babies, and the relationships between them; and the ways in which…
Other
Relationship-building describes the process of establishing emotional connections with others, starting from birth, which are based on trust and intimacy. Through relationships, children discover who they are and learn to understand others. When young children experience people helping, understanding, and enjoying them, they approach the world with openness and enthusiasm, and they grow to be responsive and caring people. (Author abstract)
Brief
This research-to-practice brief discusses the research related to unwed childbirth, marriage, and relationship education, and then points to promising practices for the integration of healthy marriage and relationship education into TANF as part of a comprehensive approach to addressing poverty. (Author abstract)
Other
The first webinar in the 2012-2013 IRP series, The Implications of Complex Families for Poverty and Child Support Policy, was presented by two national experts in the field, Maria Cancian and Daniel R. Meyer. We often think of families with children as including a mother, father, and their children in common. However, about 40 percent of children are now born to unmarried parents, and estimates suggest that more often than not, one or both of these parents will go on to have children with other partners--that is, the mother will go on to have a child with a different father and/or the father…
Other
The second webinar in the 2012-2013 IRP series, Disadvantaged Men as Fathers, was presented by Lonnie Berger from the UW-Madison Institute for Research on Poverty. The role of men in families has changed over the past several decades; at the same time, the structure of families has become increasingly diverse. While fathers once primarily served as family providers, their role now includes a wide range of child-rearing activities, and they are much more likely to be actively engaged in children's care. In addition, the father figures in children's lives may include nonresident biological…
Brief
Many programs for low-income fathers involve partnerships with multiple agencies to help recruit and serve more fathers, offer a broader array of services, and even gain access to new funding streams. In this brief, we summarize findings from the Strengthening Families Evidence Review (SFER) on forming and maintaining such partnerships. The SFER, a systematic review of family-strengthening programs serving low-income fathers or couples, was conducted by Mathematica Policy Research under contract to the Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation within the Administration for Children and…
Brief
Recruiting and retaining participants are common challenges for programs serving low-income fathers. In this brief, we summarize several promising practices from the Strengthening Families Evidence Review (SFER) on recruitment and retention. The SFER, a systematic review of family-strengthening programs serving low-income fathers or couples, was conducted by Mathematica Policy Research under contract to the Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation within the Administration for Children and Families. This brief focuses on the 90 studies of 70 responsible fatherhood programs included in…
