James M. Herzog's Father Hunger: Explorations with Adults and Children will quickly take its place both as a landmark contribution to development psychology and as an enduring classic in the clinical literature of psychoanalysis. We live in an era when a great many children grow up without a father, or, worse still, with fathers who traumatically abuse them. Yet, society continues to ignore the emotional price that children pay, and often continue to pay throughout their lives, for this tragic state of affairs. At the heart of this lack of compassionate responsibility is our collective…
Community Integration Workbook speaks directly to those readers who are looking to change their lives for the better, and who find themselves in groups of likeminded souls, groups facilitated by professional or paraprofessional counselors. It is also an effective tool for guiding the individual counseling of similar clients.
The purpose of this book is to provide a counseling guide, emphasizing the transition from institutions like prison, jail, halfway houses, homeless shelters, inpatient alcohol and substance abuse treatment facilities, mental hospitals, and various therapeutic…
Preliminary data from the Fragile Families survey were analyzed to examine the impact of incarceration on marriage and family structure. The study specifically considered the characteristics of married and unmarried fathers at risk of imprisonment. Men who have been incarcerated are less likely to be married than men who have never been in prison. Former inmates were also less likely to have a relationship with the mother of their child at the child's first birthday. Regression analysis with incarceration as a dummy variable supported the finding that a history of incarceration negatively…
Fathers play an important role in child development, whether or not they reside with their children. However, an increasing number of children from all socioeconomic and ethnic backgrounds are growing up without a father in the home. The authors describe strategies that mental health and social work professionals can use to support the participation of noncustodial fathers in the lives of their children. Specific considerations for divorced fathers, nonresidential fathers who never married their children's mother, and teen fathers are highlighted. The text describes the emotional experiences…
The incarceration of a father can have a significant impact on the emotional development of his children, with many children experiencing dissociation, anxiety, loss, and anger. Factors that influence the child's response include the circumstances of the father's arrest, how the child hears about the arrest, and the mother's level of distress. This book describes the effects of imprisonment on fathers, their children, and the mothers of their children and explains how social workers can support family relationships in this difficult situation. The role of family relationships in the…
The absence of a father can have a significant impact on children and contribute to problems such as juvenile delinquency, substance abuse, teen pregnancy, and child poverty. This book explains why fatherlessness is increasing and argues that acceptance of new family structures is detrimental to the well-being of children and society. The author warns that the problem will continue to grow unless steps are taken to encourage men to become more committed to their families. He suggests that cultural attitudes must shift from individualism to interest in the good of society. Moral principles…
This book offers chapters by different authors discussing their experiences with group therapy and interventions encouraging fathers to play a greater role in their children's lives and practice other positive family behaviors. Small groups have the greatest potential to affect such changes for a number of reasons, the editors write, possibly because most social behavior occurs in small groups. Such groups are more effective in enhancing learning and create positive interdependence among members, especially in faith-based interventions. The editors also recognize the importance of the…
In recent years a number of programs have been initiated to provide incarcerated fathers with education and training in parenting skills. This chapter reviews research, theory and the evolving practice of such programs, including experiences of 125 inmates who have participated in parenting classes while in prison. The psychosocial and social needs of incarcerated fathers; recruitment and barriers; program goals; evaluation strategies; and a summary of core information to guide program development are presented. Common characteristics of imprisoned fathers and various prison parenting…
This examination of Judeo-Christian faith-based initiatives promoting responsible fatherhood explores the basic values and assumptions of such interventions and the characteristics of several successful programs. A number of barriers and challenges exist to faith-based fatherhood programs focused on improving the father-child-family relationship. The basic assumption of such programs is that to be a good father a man must become a man of God, the authors explain, and scriptures provide many examples and moral lessons about the behavior and character of a good father. Evangelical Protestant…
This working paper explores the role of fathers and father-child relationships in the psychosocial development of adolescents by examining outcomes data from National Longitudinal Survey of Youth (NLSY) files on children and mothers. The survey uses a number of measures to evaluate child development and well being; other characteristics of children and mothers; information about family structure and household makeup; family income, home environment, and other sociodemographic factors; as well as children's perceptions of their mother, father, and or/step father. The initial survey was…
