"The fathers may soar. And the children may know their names," Toni Morrison wrote. In Black Fathers, Kristin Clark Taylor takes this wisdom to heart. Focusing on the irreplaceable gifts fathers bring to their children's lives as well as on the untold joy that comes from fathering a child, she invites all black fathers -- those who soar, those who are only learning how to fly, and those whose wings have been temporarily clipped by circumstances or personal failure -- to celebrate themselves, heal the fissures that separate them from their children, and reclaim their place in the hearts and…
This introduction discusses the development of the Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters program (HIPPY), a home-based early intervention program that helps parents teach skills important to school readiness and success to their 3 to 5-year-old children. This free service is delivered by HIPPY home visitors who live in targeted high-need communities. It discusses the goals of the book, including its advocacy of an international network that can increase the productivity, quality, and quantity of HIPPY programs, its use as a resource for HIPPY practitioners and for researchers,…
While there have been many books about child development and motherhood, precious little has been written about how fathers change and develop as parents or about how children influence their fathers development. Yet most fathers know that a man who's just found out that his wife is expecting is a very different kind of man from the one he'll be when he holds his newborn in his arms for the first time. And that same dad will have changed again--psychologically and emotionally--by the time his baby speaks for the first time. Fathers evolve and develop throughout every stage of their children's…
The majority of African American children live in homes without their fathers, but the proportion of African American children living in intact, two-parent families has risen significantly since 1995. Black Fathers in Contemporary American Society looks at father absence from two sides, offering an in-depth analysis of how the absence of African American fathers affects their children, their relationships, and society as a whole, while countering the notion that father absence and family fragmentation within the African American community is inevitable. Editors Obie Clayton, Ronald B. Mincy,…
Rev. Rick Meyer contends that when children do not have the assurance of knowing they are deeply loved and cherished, persistent emotional deficits often result. Males experience and express these deficits in unique ways. The boys and men profiled in I Love You, Son reflect the struggles of adolescent boys and adult males as they face their own emotional deficits in relation to God, self, and others. This unique contribution to the topic of being male today encourages men's efforts as husbands and fathers and extends the words of God--"Behold, my son, whom I love" (Matthew 3:17)--to all men…
The mission of this book is to give dads short, practical ideas to build a quality relationship with their 8- 12-year-old sons.Dad, build a lasting bridge to your son's heart. This critical period when he's between eight and twelve years of age is the time to build an unbreakable bond with your son. But how do you forge a strong and resilient relationship that can withstand those potentially turbulent teenage years lying just up ahead? Dad's Everything Book for Sons is a practical, hands-on manual for dads who have the will but aren't quite sure of the way to give their sons the legacy of a…
The effectiveness of fatherhood programs working with low-income and mostly noncustodial fathers are reviewed in this chapter, including results from the Children First program, eight federally funded demonstration projects designed to increase noncustodial parents access to their children, and the Parents Fair Share program. Lessons learned from the evaluations of these programs are shared. 30 references.
Thirty men were interviewed for this study about the feelings and motivations of birth fathers who release their children for adoption. Their narratives are synthesized in chapters that address each phase of pre- and post-adoption life, from learning about the pregnancy to short- and long-term effects. Ten of the men searched or had contact with their birth children after their adoption. The text challenges traditional beliefs regarding the impact of adoption on birth fathers and represents the first reference that examines the experiences of men who give up their children. The men reported…
Deployment can be a difficult time, for both the adults being deployed and the families they are leaving behind. Children face a hose of special issues when one or both of their parents are deployed. This booklet was created to help parents and educators, two groups who care deeply about children, support children during this potentially stressing time. We also discuss ways that parents and educators can work together to ensure that the education process stays on track during a deployment. (Author abstract).
This interactive handbook teaches fathers how to contribute to their child's academic success. It lets them know that parents are a child's most important teachers and role models, and encourages them to play an active role in their child' education, even if they don't live together. Includes information on parents' rights, and a list of fatherhood resources. (Author abstract)
