red dot icon
Journal Article This article emphasizes the need to provide therapeutic eservices to fathers of substance-exposed infants. It discusses expanding roles, expectations, and opportunities for fathers, and the influence of fathers on their children. The fatherhood experiences of substance-using men are shared and vignettes offer two examples of partners of perinatal substance users who were actively involved in parenting their children. 29 references.
red dot icon
Journal Article A study was conducted of 51 Georgia offenders who were substance abusers and fathers to 130 children. Findings indicate that despite their lack of participation in hands-on fathering, offenders cited children as one of their biggest motivators for success upon release. The majority wanted to re-connect with their children and to become both a good role model and a meaningful part of their children's lives. 4 references.
red dot icon
Journal Article This article discusses the parenting challenges faced by chemically dependent men in establishing and repairing relationships with their children. The challenges include coping with father hunger from their own abandonment, father wounds from prior child abuse, limited role models, and male depression. Suggestions that mental health professionals can use to help men in recovery build and repair relationships with their children are provided. 20 references.
red dot icon
Journal Article This article opens a window into the first eight months of therapeutic work with two very different families as the men struggle to adapt to their new role of primary caregiver. Written from the therapist's viewpoint, the article highlights the interplay between the psycho -dynamic work and concrete, case management tasks during a period of crisis. These complementary interventions have supported the families as they acknowledge the death of a mother, manage emotional and concrete needs, and move towards developing a new family structure. The cases are presented as they have evolved through…
red dot icon
Journal Article This article discusses what is known about the psychological experiences of fathers caring for an HIV-infected child and the strengths and limitations of telephone support groups in providing assistance for such fathers. Findings from a telephone support group conducted in 1996 for non-HIV-infected fathers of HIV-infected children are shared and indicate participants felt the group increased not only their feeling of social support, but their knowledge of sources of concrete support. Fathers reported that the most positive aspects of the group were the common bond they all shared and the…
red dot icon
Journal Article This article provides judges with strategies for engaging noncustodial fathers in child welfare legal proceedings. It discusses reasons for making father engagement a priority, identifying fathers and determining paternity, and monitoring agency actions to notify and support fathers. Questions are suggested for gathering father information from reluctant mothers. 30 references.
red dot icon
Journal Article The second of two articles, this article focuses on specific strategies judges can use to engage fathers in and out of court, as well as strategies for engaging fathers' extended families, ensuring the safety of the mother and child, using nonadversarial decision-making processes, ensuring quality visits between fathers and their children, ensuring fathers receive parenting services, and working with incarcerated fathers. 39 references. (Author abstract modified)
red dot icon
Journal Article Objective. The objectives of this study were to identify associations and pathways through which first-time resident fathers' pregnancy intentions (reported retrospectively) influence their later coparenting and to examine whether these associations varied based on the child's gender. Design. Using data from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study--Birth Cohort (ECLS-B) 9- and 24-month surveys, we examined a sample of first-time resident biological fathers (N = 1,278). Results. Having a mistimed or unwanted pregnancy is associated with higher levels of paternal depression and with lower mother…
red dot icon
Journal Article The "My Brother's Keeper" initiative (Obama, 2014) has helped to attract public attention to the vulnerabilities faced by many boys of color (BOC). In this article, I review what is known about the developmental status of BOC, identify key family practices that are critical to their development, and consider the implications of both for early intervention. The lack of school readiness skills and early reading competence are seen as the most serious early concerns. BOC struggle with language, literacy, and the regulation of behavior and emotions. These problems are evident at school entry,…
red dot icon
Journal Article We use longitudinal survey and qualitative information from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study to examine how risk factors such as physical abuse, problematic substance use, and incarceration among unmarried fathers in the study are related to fathers' early involvement with their children. The survey results indicate that nearly half of fathers have at least one risk factor and that each risk is negatively associated with paternal involvement. The results also show that fathers with risk factors are less likely to have romantic relationships with mothers and that relationships…
