This book highlights the experiences of six women living on an Army post in Baumholder, Germany whose husbands are deployed to Iraq. The women were interviewed biweekly between April 2003 and August 2004. They describe the pressures of single-parenthood, battles with alcoholism and depression, marital strife, the strength and comfort that come with the support of close friends, and their fear of death during the 15 months of deployment. Their relationships with their husbands and with the community are discussed, as well as their own quest to cope with the deployment. 27 references.
Other
This issue of a newsletter for child welfare workers in Colorado describes strategies for developing a rapport with families from other cultures, fathers, and teens. The articles review the importance of client-worker collaboration to the success of assessments and services. Professionals who are working with culturally diverse families are advised to learn about values and experiences from a variety of resources, including parents themselves. Cultural differences should be respected and integrated into treatment when appropriate. Techniques for including fathers in casework include…
Brief
The Building Strong Families (BSF) project aims to foster the development of programs designed to enhance children's well being by helping new, unmarried parents build stronger relationships and achieve a healthy marriage if they so choose. The motivation and design of BSF programs draw heavily on findings about unmarried parents from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study. This research brief summarizes information from that study about the characteristics and relationship patterns of unwed parents. While not representative of all unwed parents, the study sample is representative of…
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Journal Article The parenting dynamics of batterers can be the source of considerable trauma and abuse to children, in addition to that incurred by witnessing violence against their mothers. Bancroft and Silverman describe how batterers are at high risk of physically, sexually, and psychologically abusing and exploiting their children, and how a batterer's attempts at pathological control of the family often continue after separation through custody disputes and during visitation. Intimidation by batterers also prevents mothers from protecting their children and using their parenting strengths. This article…
Other
The purpose of this guidance paper is to provide information on the need for, and methods of, locating absent parents of children in foster care so that the child's permanency and well-being can be achieved more effectively and efficiently. Topics include the importance of locating absent fathers, the identified barriers to locating absent fathers, and recommendations that social services districts and voluntary authorized agencies can consider to support or improve their practices and permanency results. (Author abstract)
When you no longer live under the same roof it becomes more difficult to nourish and care for the relationship with your mom, dad, son or daughter. One way you can nourish and care for your relationship is by using the activities in this book to stay in touch. (Author abstract)
Training Materials, Other
Designed to be used in conjunction with the Getting Real parent and youth training component of the Creating Lasting Family Connections (CLFC) curriculum, this 17-minute DVD presentation describes how each person has a shared, hidden, and lost component of the self. It discusses the critical role that trust plays in human relationships and the 'safe and alone' versus 'vulnerable and intimate' paradox faced in these relationships. A card is also included that explains the CLFC curriculum series. (Author abstract modified)
Sponsored by a grant from the Otto Bremer Foundation, the goals of the one-day event were to invite professionals working in corrections and in the fatherhood field to gather to (1) identify barriers that fathers encounter as they reenter their families, neighborhoods and communities; and (2) propose organizational and community strategies that may be implemented to promote fathers' successful transition and reduce recidivism. This Final Report includes highlights of the day and recommendations for future action. (Author abstract modified)
As part of a process of identifying attitudes and opinions, Fathers, Inc. held three focus groups of adolescents involved in a dropout prevention program to assist in understanding the attitudes of teenagers with regards to fatherhood. This report discusses findings from the focus groups and offers programmatic suggestions drawn from the findings. Focus group 1 consisted of males, ages 15-20 years, of African heritage and multiracial. Although the majority was being raised in single parent households, some were living with a mother and stepfather, and one was living with an aunt. A little…
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Journal Article This qualitative study gives voice to Latino fathers' perceptions of their roles and values in family life by analyzing data collected from 32 Latino men residing in an Urban Mexican setting and both urban and rural settings in the U.S. The authors utilize a symbolic interactionist framework and ecological theory to illustrate the cultural nature of fatherhood constructions, the impact of immigration on patterns of change and continuity in paternal behaviors and values, and the importance of intergenerational influences in the formation of fatherhood perceptions. Fathers articulate the…
