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Journal Article This article reviews the five key social work journals for the years 1988-1996. These journals had a total subscription of 168,000 during the mid-point of this nine-year span. The five journals published a combined total of 30 issues per year, ranging from 4 to 10 issues. A total of 2,323 feature articles were published in 270 issues during that period. The earlier depictions of fathers in the articles as perpetrators and as embattled have been superseded. The emerging view of fathers as nurturing is reflected in other sources. Thus, the view of the father as perpetrator and as someone to…
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Journal Article The rights of unwed and unknown fathers are the focus of this article. Unwed fathers' rights are pressing issues as the number of out-of-wedlock births has increased over the past 3 decades. The expanding population of unwed fathers gives rise to the potential for problems in the adoption of illegitimate children and indicates a need to have laws which protect the interests of these children. The purpose of the unwed father registry statutes is to help alleviate potential problems in the adoption of children born out of marriage. Problem adoptions and the limited rights of unwed fathers is…
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Journal Article This article describes the practical application of research findings from two studies of adolescent parents, both reported in the same issue of Family Relations. The studies identified factors that influence competent parenting among teenagers and examined how those qualities can be enhanced. Self-esteem, scholastic achievement, and commitment to the child were the most significant variables contributing to competent parenting. Practitioners should focus on increasing the adolescent parent's support network and use peer influence to promote socially responsible parenting. Practitioners…
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Journal Article Factors predicting attendance by 161 adolescents and young adults at a parenting skills program were assessed. Data were collected on participant demographics, intrapersonal variables, social support, attendance goals, and parenting knowledge. Multiple regression analyses revealed four positive predictors-- receipt of AFDC, endorsing goals of meeting other parents, learning how to relax, and number of children; and one negative predictor-- total number of group sessions. Three variables, number of sessions, number of children, and learning to relax, differentiated the highest versus lowest…
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Journal Article This article analyzes the trend in the California Supreme Court's treatment of unwed birth fathers' rights to raise their newborn children when the birth mother has chosen adoption. The author begins by describing the social, political, and constitutional factors influencing such cases. California's attempts to address the father/child rights balance are examined, with a discussion of the historical statutory distinction between fathers who are involved in their children's lives and those who are not. The specific situations presented by 3 major cases (Baby Girl M., Kelsey S., and Michael H…
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Journal Article The purpose of this study was to examine the perceptions and attitudes of fathers and mothers about their own and their spouse's parental roles, and to identify relationships between those perceptions and attitudes and variations in fathers' actual involvement in child rearing. Self-report and interview data were collected from 89 middle-class families to measure each parent's participation in three categories of parental involvement (i.e., interaction, accessibility, and responsibility), as well as perceptions of role expectations for fathers and perceived parental role investments. Several…
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Journal Article The role of the birth father in adoption is debated by lawyers, adoption professionals, and members of the adoption triad. At issue is how best to involve the birth father in the adoption plan while respecting the feelings of the birth mother, prospective adoptive couple, and rights of the child. This article examines emotional, legal and practice issues related to a birth father in adoption and implications for the perinatal social worker. A birth father is a significant part of the adoption triad with legal rights and responsibilities. He may offer support to the birth mother during labor…
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Journal Article This article examines legal issues involving intercountry adoption and the rights of birth fathers. An overview is provided, suggesting that an increasing number of intercountry adoptions are taking place to avoid delays and uncertainty because of the state of U.S. law on paternal rights of unwed fathers. Circumvention of U.S. law is examined, to the extent that the U.S. is committed to the protection of paternal rights over alternative legal choices, such as speedy adoption regardless of parental consent, and the measures that exist in international law to prevent effective nullification of…
