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Jason DeParle, an award-winning New York Times reporter, discusses his book, American Dream: Three Women, Ten Kids, and a Nation's Drive to End Welfare. University of Pennsylvania sociologist Kathy Edin and CLASP Policy Director Mark Greenberg join DeParle to discuss the findings of the book. This audio conference is moderated by Jodie Levin-Epstein. (Author abstract)
This document attempts to remove a bit of the mystery around helping parents with child support modifications. Written with the presumption that the father is the noncustodial parent who is paying child support, this same information can be applied to all noncustodial parents whether they are fathers or mothers. (Author abstract)
Brief
This Research Brief was developed to update discussions of welfare reform through the lens of child well-being. It briefly sketches the history of research on welfare reform and children and shares the conceptual models that provided initial mappings of the ways in which welfare reform might affect children. The brief then presents a revised conceptual model that takes into account issues raised in the actual implementation of welfare reform, such as whether any income gains experienced by low income families translate into additional resources for children. At the same time, the revised…
Plans to ensure the safety of children in homes affected by domestic violence must include interventions with batterers to alleviate the threat to all family members. This guide produced by the Massachusetts Department of Social Services Domestic Violence Unit describes strategies for interviewing and working with abusers. Emphasis is placed on holding offenders accountable for their behavior and providing motivations for change. A system for assessing dangerousness and risk for the social worker and nonabusive parent is discussed. Chapters review the influence of race, class, culture, and…
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Journal Article This article is based on an in-depth qualitative study of efforts by an Early Head Start program to include fathers in program activities with the aim of supporting and strengthening their involvement in their children's lives. Since this program employs a home-visiting model of service delivery, our focus is on the work and experiences of home-visiting staff. Our key findings concern the evolutionary development of program thinking and practice regarding fathers and father involvement; barriers or challenges to father involvement; and successful strategies for engaging fathers on both a…
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This transcript is from a panel discussion held on June 28, 2004, that explored government partnerships with faith-based organizations (FBOs) to support the Healthy Marriage Initiative. The panel included Richard P. Nathan, Director of The Nelson A. Rockefeller Institute of Government and The Roundtable on Religion and Social Welfare Policy; John P. Bartkowski, Professor of Sociology, Mississippi State University; Wade F. Horn, Assistant Secretary for Children and Families; W. Bradford Wilcox, Assistant Professor of Sociology at the University of Virginia; and Theodora Ooms, Senior Policy…
Brief
The Amachi initiative was implemented in Philadelphia to reduce risks for children of incarcerated men and women. Research has found that these children are vulnerable because of the instability of their living situation as well as the feelings associated with having a parent in prison. Depression, poor academic achievement, substance abuse, and juvenile delinquency are more likely among the children of incarcerated parents than in the general population. Amachi seeks to provide a positive influence in these children's lives with adults recruited from faith-based communities. Big Brothers Big…
The Department of Health and Human Services Peer Technical Assistance Network sponsored a roundtable discussion to share ideas about programs to strengthen families who are separated by parental incarceration. Government officials, service providers, and practitioners from Tennessee, Florida, Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma reviewed trends in incarceration and discussed solutions to common challenges. Prisoner re-entry, recidivism, and the impact of incarceration on children and parents specifically were discussed. Attendees noted the need to focus on nurturing stability in dysfunctional…
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Journal Article Scott and Crooks (authors of another article in this issue) provide an accounting of the characteristics that are more typical among maltreating than nonmaltreating fathers. Despite the merit in the suggested guidelines for intervention programs, questions may be raised about the relative utility of interventions rather than prevention programs with at-risk males. The effectiveness of one such prevention program (home visiting) is described. (Author abstract modified)
This fact sheet includes a set of website links designed to assist individuals in mentoring efforts targeting children of prisoners. Links are provided for information on the Mentoring Children of Prisoners Initiative; general mentoring resources; and children of prisoners related resources, including links for information on partnerships, grants, faith-based programs, publications, legal advice, and training; and grant writing tutorials.
