This chapter summarizes economic theory and evidence regarding the impact of welfare, child support enforcement, and labor markets on the lack of father involvement in circumstances such as divorce, legal separation, or nonmarital births. The discussion reviews trends in family structure and explains how public policy can enhance child well-being by promoting family structures that facilitate father involvement in children's lives. All economic theories about family structure are based on the assumption that individuals make the decision to marry or divorce by weighing the benefits of each…
Low-income fathers share many of the same characteristics as women on welfare--low literacy, poor employment history and low-wage employment. This fact sheet proposes ways in which policymakers can build services to help fathers. Suggestions include (but are not limited to): Develop networks of local providers to provide men with employment assistance; use state institutions to refer low-income fathers to local service providers; identify "nontraditional partners" like voluntarypaternity establishment programs, HealthyStart and Head Start--to connect fathers withneeded services; connect with…
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Journal Article To successfully engage fathers, workers need training to dispel many of the myths related to "absent fathers" believed by not only case managers but society as a whole. It is our job to create a safe environment for the children as well as the parents. Case managers need adequate training that will give them the skills to build respect and trust between the child welfare system and fathers. Agency staff--from directors to case aides--need to increase the focus on the importance of improving the father-child relationship and the benefits to the child. To better meet the needs of children in…
