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Healthy children and families are the foundation of strong, prosperous communities. In partnership with the Land-Grant University and Cooperative Extension System, USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) supports efforts that take a holistic, life-span approach to promoting healthy physical, cognitive, social, and emotional development for individuals and families within their diverse ecologies. This is a state-by-state listing of family life and human development state extension specialists at land-grant universities. (Author abstract modified)
Other
Involved fathering is a defining characteristic of our species, with different features having evolved at different times and in different contexts.4,5 Yet paternal behaviors and roles also vary across and within sociocultural contexts, in turn yielding an array of influences on children.3,6,7 Fathers may provide protection, material resources (e.g., salary, livestock, inheritance), direct care (e.g., changing diapers, physical play), indirect care (such as arranging marriages in some cultures) and may serve as social models. Impacts on children may be measured in terms of fertility (number…
This fact sheet focuses on children in poverty in South Dakota. It begins by explaining federal poverty thresholds for 2014, poverty guidelines issued by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, South Dakota benefits that use poverty guidelines, and the Supplemental Poverty Measure. It concludes that poverty thresholds vary by family size and number of children, but not geographically, while guidelines vary by family size and geographically. The use of the Supplemental Poverty Measure to extend the Official Poverty Measure is discussed and key differences between poverty thresholds…
This fact sheet focuses on the implementation of the Head Start program in South Dakota. It begins by explaining the establishment of the South Dakota Head Start State Collaboration, the history of Head Start, and the beliefs and goals of Head Start related to school readiness. Head Start program options are reviewed, as well as an early learning framework and the racial characteristics of children enrolled in Head Start in South Dakota in 2012/2013. It is reported that in 2013-2014 a total of 3,990 families participated in Head Start, 22% of the parents had less than a high school diploma,…
This fact sheet focuses on the implementation of the Early Head Start program in South Dakota. It begins by explaining the history of the Early Head Start program, the establishment of 8 Early Head Starts in South Dakota, and the goal of Early Head Start programs to prepare children to be ready for school. It is reported that in 2013-2014 a total of 868 families participated in Head Start, 18% of the parents had less than a high school diploma, and 53% were single parent families. Data on parental employment, racial characteristics of children enrolled in Early Head Start, pregnant women in…
This tip card was developed for the June 2015 #DynamicDads Fatherhood Buzz effort. It contains a list of activities that dads can start or continue as well as statistics on father involvement.
This fact sheet provides ideas and resources for beginning a conversation with participants about two specific financial empowerment topics: starting an emergency savings account and building credit. It examines some common concerns about financial topics like "We don’t have enough money to start a savings account" and "Will pulling my credit report hurt my credit score?" and offers ways to help participants take the first step. The fact sheet also directs HMRF practitioners to where they can find financial institution and credit counseling partners. (Author abstract)
Unpublished Paper
The purpose of this study was to fill a gap in our knowledge regarding father involvement in informal kinship care and its impact on the emotional and behavioral wellbeing of children in care. Although this study was neither exclusively a fatherhood nor a child welfare study, it has the potential to contribute to the knowledge base of each area. The study was guided by the principles of family systems theory, which highlight the interconnectedness of family members and the ways in which family interactions impact individual wellbeing. This study specifically explored the relationship between…
Teaching your children about financial responsibility is one of the most important lifelong lessons you can give–and one that may not be effectively taught in school. This tip sheet offers suggestions to consider to improve the financial savvy of your kids. (Author abstract modified)
Other, Book
This guide explores a range of opportunities and challenges faced by kinship caregivers in Oregon. It starts with common issues faced by family members caring for relative children and moves on to provide resources for those families. The guide begins with information on the number of children living in households headed by grandparents or other relatives and the challenges kinship caregivers face. A checklist is then provided of important things caregivers should do right away when they begin to care for children. Following sections review information on meeting the emotional and behavioral…
