Recently, the roles of fathers and husbands in families have been recognized as important issues. They appear in legislation aimed at deadbeat dads, social movements including the Million Man March and Promise Keepers, in the development of advocacy groups, and in think tanks. Therefore, contemporary research on men in family relationships has very mixed results. Some studies show that fathers have small effects on child development and in preventing antisocial behavior, whereas others suggest no effects. Other research claims that the primary importance of men in families is in their role as…
The concept of fatherlessness has emerged at the center of debates over welfare, poverty, sexuality, divorce, family values, and "racial disorder." Do children need fathers? Do mothers need husbands? Should we celebrate or grieve the loss (or transformation) of fatherhood? Is there a relation between "fatherlessness" and the destitution and crime of inner-city communities? Or is talk about "fatherlessness" simply a political diversion from the true sources of inequality and social disruption? This collection brings together the voices of nine highly diverse scholars to reflect on the…
Men often feel sidelined as their wives go through pregnancy, childbirth, and nursing. This book puts fathers right into the center of the action. It includes real-world tips from fathers on maintaining discipline, love, and an all-around positive influence; a men's guide to pregnancy and childbirth; practical advice for men about how to care for an infant; and moral support to help men become the best fathers they can be. (Author abstract modified)
Offering an eloquent combination of fifty beautiful black-and-white photographs and poignant quotations from the fathers and children portrayed, Commitment provides a powerful rendition of fatherhood in black America.The father is often perceived as someone absent from the African American family, though the reasons for this perception vary. This book shows another side to that image, a positive one depicting black men who are supportive and nurturing parents. To reveal and celebrate this less often recognized parent, Carole Patterson has spent several years crossing the continent to…
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Journal Article Fathers make definite contributions to infant development and are now spending more time with their children than in many past decades. This article reviews the most compelling research on the developmental importance of fathers, including father infant attachment and interaction, and differences between maternal and paternal interaction styles. Results of a long term study of primary caretaking fathers also are presented. Research and practical applications are provided. 48 references. (Author abstract modified)
The author of this chapter suggests that attempts to encourage fathers to remain with their families do not address the economic and social reality of low-income men and single parent families. The statistics about father absence fail to calculate the number of non-resident fathers who are involved with their children but do not provide financial assistance and do not consider that residence with an abusive father is more harmful than living in a single parent household. Furthermore, the public image of low-income single mothers depicts them as unwilling to work or supervise their children…
This chapter explores the loss that children feel when separated from their father by divorce or because their parents never married. Research has found that in most cases, visits are awkward for the child and his parents and contact between fathers and their children decreases over time. Children of divorce experience more negative outcomes than children whose fathers died because they tend to externalize, rather than internalize, their emotions. The degree of loss is not related to the quantity of time that children spend with their nonresident father or the amount of child support.…
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Training Materials Designed for youth, this notebook includes exercises for the Developing Independence and Responsibility youth training component of the Creating Lasting Family Connections Curriculum, a curriculum for promoting the healthy development of youth at risk for alcohol and other drug abuse. After providing information on the Council on Prevention and Education: Substances, Inc. (COPES), the notebook outlines the individual training components that make up the Creating Lasting Family Connections prevention program model and provides an overview of the Developing Independence and Responsibility.…
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Training Materials Designed for trainers, this manual presents the Getting Real parent and youth training component of the Creating Lasting Family Connections Curriculum, a curriculum for promoting the healthy development of youth at risk for alcohol and other drug abuse. After providing information on the Council on Prevention and Education: Substances, Inc. (COPES) and research findings on the effectiveness of the Creating Lasting Connections project, the manual outlines the individual training components that make up the Creating Lasting Family Connections prevention program model and provides an overview…
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Training Materials Designed for parents and youth, this notebook includes exercises for the Getting Real component of the Creating Lasting Family Connections Curriculum, a curriculum for promoting the healthy development of youth at risk for alcohol and other drug abuse. After providing information on the Council on Prevention and Education: Substances, Inc. (COPES), the notebook outlines the individual training components that make up the Creating Lasting Family Connections prevention program model and provides an overview of the Getting Real communication module. Brief articles, exercises, and parental…
