Written for the October 1996 Conference on Father Involvement, the papers in this volume examine the effect of father involvement on child development and the patterns and determinants of father involvement in intact and separated families. The papers represent the diverse perspectives of anthropology, demography, economics, family science, psychology, and sociology. Specific topics include: the history of research about father involvement, cultural factors, the impact of parental activities on child outcomes, child well-being in families receiving welfare, and the effect of marital quality…
In contemporary society, father-child relationships are less valued than mother-child relationships. Fathers participate less than mothers in the lives of their children, and are not as likely as women to rearrange their work schedules around the birth or care of children. Policies support this paradigm, as laws continue to focus on the role of the father as economic provider and the mother as caregiver. This book proposes that fatherhood be redefined to emphasize the nurturing role of men. It reviews societal attitudes about male gender roles and discusses the dangers of accepting certain…
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Journal Article Thirty birth fathers in Scotland were interviewed about their perceptions of fatherhood, adoption, and post-adoption contact. Half of the men were present at the birth of their child. Twelve of the men reported that the decision to relinquish the child was made under pressure from parents and six of the birth fathers were not consulted. Eighteen of the men indicated that they had been opposed to placing the child for adoption. Twenty-three of the men experienced grief, loss, powerlessness, and other emotional distress after the adoption of their child. Motivations for post-adoption contact…
This report is the latest in a series based on the 1997 Survey of Inmates in State and Federal Correctional Facilities. Results of the survey show that in 1999 state and federal prisons held an estimated 721,500 parents of minor children. A majority of state (55 percent) and federal (63 percent) prisoners reported having a child under the age of 18. Forty-six percent of the parents reported living with their children prior to incarceration. The survey estimates that 336,300 U.S. households with minor children are affected by the imprisonment of a resident parent. The parents reported having…
The third in a series of biennial reports describes state programs and efforts intended to promote healthy child development and family relationships, school readiness, and economic security. State profiles highlight programs funded in fiscal year 2000 that focus on child development and family relationships in the general population. Policies regarding wage and income supports, child care assistance, and health and nutrition assistance also are identified as initiatives supporting economic security. Nationwide, the states utilized four types of programs to serve infants and toddlers and…
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Journal Article The last few decades have seen a dramatic increase in the number of children raised in homes where the biological father is not present. Many of these children, mired in secrecy, guilt, and family conflict, are left with unanswered questions and self-doubts about this absence. Depression and behavioral problems often result. This article reviews the clinical literature around relevant issues such as father hunger, developmental deficits, and the varying effects on the child depending on age, sex, and the degree of the father's absence. Several case examples are offered to illustrate these…
This report synthesizes research conducted in Great Britain about the effect of paternal involvement on child development and effective interventions for families in the child welfare system. Recent studies have found that 75 percent of British children are living in two-parent families. Despite a trend in single and step-parenthood, about half of non-resident fathers report that they have regular, monthly contact with their child(ren). Fathers still earn the majority of the family income, but about half of British men disagree with the traditional view of men as the primary breadwinner.…
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Journal Article This article analyzes the rights of legal absentee fathers to be notified of foster care proceedings. It reviews New York state laws regarding child protection and custody and the removal of children from a home in cases of child abuse and neglect. The article also assesses the implications of the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment for family law, and highlights Supreme Court decisions about the rights of individuals in foster care cases. The discussion asserts that statutory and case law do not support the right of a legal absentee father to continual notice about legal…
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Journal Article The Family Support Act of 1988 and the 1996 welfare reform act recognized the need to help low-income fathers stay involved with their families, financially as well as emotionally. The laws required states to offer AFDC assistance to two parent families in which the primary wage earner was not employed. They also encouraged states to establish education, employment, and training assistance to noncustodial fathers of low income children so that they could obtain the level of employment needed to fulfill child support obligations. Reform policies have also tried to amend state practices…
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Journal Article Foster fathers play an important part in the development of their foster child by counteracting the child's previous negative experiences with men and by sharing parenting responsibilities with their wives. Discussions held during focusgroups and workshops with foster fathers revealed that men see themselves as a respite provider for the foster mother, as a mediator between their wife and the social worker, as a protector for their partner, as a source of discipline, as a role model, and as an activity leader for the family. However, the men were somewhat reserved in their relationships with…
