Brief
Research and policy in the United States have focused much more on teen mothers than on teen fathers. One reason for this discrepancy is that birth certificates contain limited information on the birth fathers, which makes it difficult to even get an accurate count of teen fathers. However, new Child Trends' estimates show that 9 percent--or 900,000--young men between the ages of 12 and 16 in 1996 (reflecting the group of young men examined in this brief) became fathers before their twentieth birthday. Despite the size of this group, relatively little is known about the characteristics and…
Brief
To promote a more coordinated approach to meeting children's developmental needs, this brief proposes the adoption of the SERIES paradigm of developmental screening in which each step -- Screening, Early Identification, Referral, Intake, Evaluation, and Services -- is seen not as an isolated activity, but rather an integral component of a single process. SERIES challenges all systems serving young children to broaden their focus to include practices that promote shared responsibility for ensuring that each child successfully completes the entire pathway from screening to services. This brief…
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.
This information sheet provides tips on how fathers can not only build relationships with their children but also build their self confidence through consistent, positive communication and encouragement. The sheet also contains a list of topics for further discussion as well as recommendations for books and movies.
Brief
This brief describes the context in which Responsible Fatherhood, Marriage and Family Strengthening Grants for Incarcerated and Re-entering Fathers and their Partners (MFS-IP) are operating, the populations served by the programs, and the program models in use among the grantees. (Author abstract)
Brief
The high proportion of children born outside marriage -- 37 percent in 2005 -- has raised concern among policymakers about the quality and stability of unmarried parents' relationships. In response, the federal government's Healthy Marriage Initiative provides funding to programs aimed at strengthening the bonds between unmarried parents through activities such as relationship counseling and building communication skills. The initiative also provides funding for "responsible fatherhood programs" that provide counseling and mentoring on topics such as good parenting practices.
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Brief
In 2004, the official U.S. poverty rate for families reached its highest level (12.3 percent) since 1993. Moreover, poverty rates varied substantially across different family structures. Families headed by single females, for example, experienced poverty rates nearly six times as great as families headed by married couples.
While the poverty rate is a useful tool for assessing trends in economic wellbeing, the measure has been criticized for its inability to reflect income sufficiency for any particular family in recent decades. In order to better understand how families are faring,…
Brief
Faith community liaisons--official contacts at the state or local level between government and faith-based and community organizations (FBCOs)--have been established in at least 36 states and in many localities as of 2008. Their work typically entails facilitating partnerships with and within the FBCO community, encouraging the organizational capacity of FBCOs, and educating both faith-based organizations and public agencies about the opportunities and requirements of the federal Charitable Choice and "equal treatment" provisions that sought to "level the playing field" for religious…
NRFC Quick Statistics and Research Reviews, Brief
This compilation includes information and research findings on the child development of children who reside with their fathers. Fact sheets are provided that address: the cognitive, social, emotional, motor development, and health of infants and toddlers ages birth through 2; the cognitive, social, emotional development, externalizing behavior problems, health, and physical development of children in early childhood from 2 through 6 years; the academic achievement, performance, socioemotional development, and externalizing behavior problems of children in middle childhood ages 7 through 10…
NRFC Quick Statistics and Research Reviews, Brief
This fact sheet includes information and research findings on the child development of young children who are ages birth through 2 years and reside with their fathers. Research results are shared on father warmth, sensitivity, and closeness; father cognitive stimulation; father engagement; and father restrictiveness, harshness, and controlling behaviors and their impact on cognitive development, social and emotional development, infant health, and motor development of the children. References are provided for the statistics cited.
