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…
Getting back into regular contact with your kids after a long absence is a special challenge. Many men feel defeated by the past or discouraged because they haven’t kept up with their kids. However, fathers matter a lot to kids, even if they have been absent. Knowing who your father is and that he cares for you is crucial. Kids get part of their identity from their fathers. If the only thing they have is absence, they can imagine it’s their fault or that they didn’t measure up in some way. As the father, you can do things for your child that no one else can. Here are some things to keep in…
Esta hoja informativa provee consejos sobre como los padres pueden empezar a construir una conexión más amorosa con sus hijos; respondiendo a sus necesidades más importantes. Los niños necesitan un padre que se involucre, que sea comprensivo, afectuoso y consistente y que esté disponible.
Esta hoja informativa ofrece consejos sobre cómo los padres pueden compartir historias sobre su historia familiar con sus hijos para ayudarles a valorar tanto su herencia como lo que son como individuos. La hoja también contiene una lista de temas para discutir más a fondo, así como recomendaciones de libros y películas.
This InfoSheet presents research findings from the 2006 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services study, What About the Dads? Child Welfare Agencies' Efforts to Identify, Locate, and Involve Nonresident Fathers, which was conducted by the Urban Institute with the National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago. Based on this research, it offers ways in which caseworkers can locate and work with fathers to get them involved with their children.
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.
The second part in a 3-part series, this brief explains effective strategies for active listening between couples. The strategies include: use body language that signals that you are listening intently to your partner; after the speaker has communicated their point, pause to reflect on what has been said and replay in your own words what you believe the speaker tried to communicate; do not use restating your partner's communication as an opportunity to further state your point or voice a disagreement; and convey that you understand what has been communicated. A list of additional resources is…
