The Parents as Teachers Promoting Responsible Fatherhood project was designed to demonstrate the feasibility and effectiveness of an adaptation of the Parents as Teachers model with low-income fathers as the primary target population. The project goal is to increase father involvement in Parents as Teachers services. Fathers who live with their children (residential fathers) who meet the income criteria (under 200% federal poverty level) were recruited toparticipate in a 12-week group meeting cycle lasting 3 months. During these 3 months, fathers also participated in home visits by Parents…
This brief discusses the importance of a healthy father-child relationship and the benefits of father involvement in child welfare cases. It cites research findings that indicate nonresident fathers' involvement with their children is associated with a higher likelihood of a reunification outcome and a lower likelihood of an adoption outcome, children with highly involved nonresident fathers are discharged from foster care more quickly than those with less or no involvement, and among children whose case outcome is reunification, usually with their mothers, higher levels of nonresident father…
There are not many guys in the world who can actually say they knew how to be a father before it happened. This guide tells you what new dads have figured out--and wished they had known in the beginning--about this mysterious business called "being a father." It includes prenatal information as well as information on preparing for the baby's arrival, helping the mother and how to care for the baby, bonding and attachment, and legal and financial issues. (Author abstract modified)
Early childhood is a critical time for the healthy development of children. Between the ages of 2 and 7, the human brain grows to 70-90% of its adult size. The quality of nurtur-ing and education which occurs during this early childhood period significantly impacts not only a child's individual capacities, but the child's ability to ultimately contribute to a healthy community. In this publication, we take a look at families who have been engaged with some form of early childhood education or service in Minnesota. We cast a broad net here including organized programs such as Early Childhood…
This guide has basic information about paternity, custody,child support, and parenting time for unmarried fathers in Minnesota. Every state has different laws on family law. This guide is for Minnesota only. (Author abstract modified)
Family and child well-being is vital to the health of America's neighborhoods and communities. Recognizing this fact when reauthorizing the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program in 2005, Congress appropriated $150 million to support demonstration programs in the areas of healthy marriage and responsible fatherhood. Managed by the Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) Administration for Children and Families (ACF), these initiatives were designed to have a broad reach, including marriage and relationship education services for married and engaged couples. Of the 116…
In 2006, the Administration for Children and Families Office of Family Assistance (OFA) awarded Healthy Marriage (HM) and Responsible Fatherhood (RF) grants to a variety of organizations offering a diverse range of programming. The funded organizations were required to work within a framework of guidelines, including target populations and allowable activities. However, as demonstration initiatives, program design was intentionally flexible to encourage creativity in approach; offering deeper insight into which organizational structures, implementation strategies and service delivery models…
This report pulls from the experience of 15 organizations, whose specific focus is delivering services to high school-age youth, to summarize their common experiences and evaluation findings. It also focuses on how these programs were designed and structured to reach high school-age youth, according to information provided by organizations. The suggested influence of these demonstration programs is highlighted through quotes and links to video clips of the experiences of youth and program operators. Information on the program operations of all 15 grantees is included and supplemented by…
This paper is an endeavor to look at healthy marriage education programs funded by the Office of Family Assistance (OFA) designed specifically to meet the needs of unmarried couples expecting a child or co-parenting a newborn. It looks at the unique challenges of the participants, varied program designs and service delivery strategies, as well as outcomes related to a specific group of healthy marriage grant programs. The intent is to continue the conversation around the question, "Do healthy marriage programs work?" raised and addressed in the Building Strong Families Study(Wood, McConnell,…
This framework is a road map for progress in achieving the kinds of outcomes that lead to positive and enduring change for children and families. It is a research-based approach to program change that shows how an agency can work together as a whole--across systems and service areas--to promote parent and family engagement and children's learning development. (Author abstract)
