Other
This video follows a diverse group of expectant and new dads as they play a vital role in pregnancy, labor, and the birth of their children. The DVD is divided into five easy-to-view sections: 1. Dads are unique - why are dads essential? 2. The Pregnant Father - going to prenatal exams, healthy habits, finances, and taking time off. 3. Labor and Birth - being there, attending to mom's needs, asking questions, being with baby. 4. Emotions - postpartum blues for mom and dad, intimacy. 5. Baby care - benefits of breastfeeding, bonding, signs of illness, SIDS, Shaken Baby Syndrome, coping with…
Other
This video will inspire young dads to nurture their child's development as they deal with the life-changing realities of being a father. The DVD is divided into six easy-to-view sections: 1. Connect - child development, health and safety.2. Positive Discipline - setting limits and coping with frustration. 3. Take Care of Yourself - having personal goals, dealing with your own father. 4. Relating - resolving relationship conflict, "I" messages. 5. Work and Family - flexible hours, sharing work with your child, finding work. 6. Single Fatherhood - shared parenting, fathering from a distance…
Other
Approximately one-third of all infants are born to parents who are not married. Families in which the parents are cohabitating or living separately are considered to be fragile and at risk of dissolution and poverty. This report highlights findings from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study and the Time, Love, Cash, Caring, and Children Study regarding the relationships between unmarried parents. The results can be used to assess need and target services to support these families. The Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study is following a cohort of 3,712 children born to unmarried…
Other
To investigate the family support needs of Iowa citizens, the Iowa Fatherhood, Marriage and Family Supports Advisory Group conducted 25 focus groups involving over 250 adults. This resulting report discusses themes that were prevalent during these focus groups and presents the following recommendations for family support services: (1) lift up the importance of the family; (2) act before a family faces crises and is harmed; (3) improve the relationship skills of all Iowans; (4) bolster families through economic stability and employer support; (5) surround families with a comprehensive array of…
Other
This issue focuses on the father's role in permanency planning for a child in foster care. It begins by discussing barriers to father involvement and predictive factors in father-child involvement. Different types of father involvement are reviewed, along with five important questions to determine paternity status and issues to consider when determining paternity. Tips are provided for overcoming the reservations of both mothers and fathers, and for involving fathers in case planning. Conditions for the award of temporary custody to fathers are also identified. Practice guidelines are then…
Other, Brief
Policymakers and researchers alike are debating whether marriage might be an antipoverty strategy for families with children. Some believe that if more parents married, there would be a substantial decrease in poverty. Others suggest that increasing the marriage rate among poor and near-poor parents, while not dramatically reducing poverty, would make a significant dent in the poverty rate for families with children. Still others are highly skeptical of these claims. This issue brief summarizes recent research bearing on the validity of these viewpoints. In particular, it reviews recent…
Other
Father involvement is critical to a child's long-term growth and development. Increased positive father involvement and engagement will create greater opportunities for fathers to make a significant contribution to their children's healthy growth and development. Fathers vary in expectations about their roles and the goals they have set for parenting and child development activities. These varying expectations need to be considered and responded to as efforts are made to support a range of father involvement opportunities. This tool has been developed, pilot-tested and used by several…
Other
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…
Other
The purpose of the evaluation was to answer the question: What is the impact of an indirect intervention program revolving around issues of father/male involvement in early childhood programs designed to provide support services for staff members on the proportion of "parent involvement contacts" and activities that include fathers/men? (McBride, Rane, and Bae, 2000, p. 79). This program evaluation design included a comparison pre-kindergarten program with a post-test, surveys, and attitudinal instruments. (Author abstract)
Other
Building Blocks 1-3 have laid important groundwork. This includes a good understanding of what social science research says about the importance of father involvement in childrens' lives, as well as evaluating program readiness and providing insights into overcoming some of the barriers that might exist in working with fathers. The first three Building Blocks established a solid, sure foundation for father involvement efforts. Building Block 4 examines issues related to program structure in working with fathers. Included is information on identifying the needs of fathers in the community, and…
