Brief
"What works" in fatherhood programs? As the responsible fatherhood field continues to grow, an increasing number of programs have been put into place to improve fathers' involvement with children and families. While several studies have examined the effects of programs on outcomes for fathers and their families, results of these studies vary, as does the quality and rigor of research methods. Only rigorous evaluations of programs can provide evidence of whether or not programs have the desired effect. Fortunately, the existence of several rigorous evaluations of recent fatherhood and…
Brief
What makes for a good teen fatherhood program? The timing of fatherhood is a powerful organizer of the paternal role. Early entry into fatherhood is a non-normative event and often accelerates role transitions. Even before they become fathers, teen fathers are a particularly vulnerable group of males whose family backgrounds and life-stressors tend to differ from older men and men who do not become fathers during adolescence. For many years, teen fathers were either overlooked or blamed for their role in teen pregnancy. However, interest in designing programs to reduce teen pregnancy, and…
NRFC Quick Statistics and Research Reviews, Brief
This research brief covers the different stages of child development and highlights the impact resident fathers have on each stage of child development. This brief stresses the importance of positive father to child interactions. Resident fathers who demonstrate more sensitivity toward their children are shown to have a positive impact on the cognitive development of infants & toddlers (0-2) and early childhood (2-6) stages of development. This brief also discusses how resident fathers’ positive emotional involvement correlates to healthy socioemotional development in middle childhood…
NRFC Quick Statistics and Research Reviews, Brief
This research brief covers the different stages of child development and highlights the impact non-resident fathers have on each stage of child development. This brief shows the correlation between a father’s regular presence in a child’s life and healthy cognitive development in infants & toddlers (0-2) and early childhood (2-6). Social development and academic performance are shown to be negatively impacted by the lack of fatherhood involvement in the older childhood development stages of middle childhood (7-10), early adolescence (11-14), and late adolescence (15-18). Regular and…
If you're an expectant father, there's a surprise around every corner ... From the first moment you hear the news to the first ultrasound to the first time seducing your pregnant partner to the first kick to the first push to the first night home with your new baby, Dad's Pregnant Too! is a witty and wise guide to everything you and your partner will encounter along the way (but what no one ever tells you).
This essential guide is packed with the best advice for expectant couples from the experts and parents who have been there before--plus incredible tips and outrageous stories about the…
Stars of MTV's Run's House -- dubbed "the new Cosby family" -- celebrate family values in this inspiring guide to modern parenting. Despite being a hip-hop icon, an ordained minister, and a reality TV star, Rev Run's greatest accomplishment has been raising his six children--Angela, Vanessa, JoJo, Diggy, Russy and Miley--with his wife Justine. Their journey has been captured on Run's House, a show that celebrates -- finally -- a reality TV family that is functional instead of dysfunctional. In an age marked by shallow materialism and fragmented families, Rev Run and Justine have inspired…
Until recently, the situation and capabilities ofunmarried parents, and unmarried fathers inparticular, were not well known. This infosheet presents findings from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study, which helps to fill the gap in reliable data available to guide policies and practice relating to unmarried parents.
This information sheet provides tips on how fathers can share stories about their family history with their children to help them to value both their heritage and who they are as individuals. The sheet also contains a list of topics for further discussion as well as recommendations for books and movies.
Webinar
Presented by the National Healthy Marriage Resource Center on June 25, 2008, this 1 hour, 30 minutes webinar discusses key findings that have emerged from father involvement research and what they mean for fatherhood and marriage programming, research and policy developments that have lead to government sponsored programs that encourage responsible fatherhood and healthy marriages, and resources that marriage and fatherhood programs can use to strengthen their ability to understand and engage fathers and provide healthy marriage activities. The first presentation is offered by Dr. Natasha…
Achieving balance between work and family--especially within a shrinking economy--is challenging for all families. The Obama-Biden plan for families includes several agenda items for supporting low-income and working families, and presents an overall strategy to strengthen families at home, to ensure that all American families can work and care for their children. This white paper notes lessons learned from the Office of Family Assistance Healthy Marriage and Responsible Fatherhood demonstration grantees. ICF recommends disseminating information on this ground-breaking work to promote…
