This report discusses the difficulties faced by low-income parents following the break-up of a marriage, the establishment of the federal Access and Visitation program in the Temporary Assistance for Needy Family (TANF) legislation to address visitation issues following a divorce, and recommended reforms to the program. Suggested reforms include increasing available funding, dedicating funding to legal services providers, targeting resources, increasing community-based institution involvement. Information is provided on the millions of children living with a single parent, the benefits of…
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The Fatherhood Research and Practice Network Coparenting Relationship Scale is designed to assess fathers' coparenting relationships with the mother of their non-residential children. The measure was validated with a sample of fathers very similar to those served in U.S. responsible fatherhood programs. A scoring guide can be found here. (Author abstract) This book is for young couples becoming a family, either pregnant or with a new baby. It meets you where you are -- ready or not, and married or unmarried -- and helps you to be your very best. The love you bring your baby can help your baby grow and thrive. As two parents, working together, you have twice as much to give. And there are lots of good ways to get free or low cost help.
With three major sections -- on parenting, couples issues, and financial issues -- it offers a wealth of needed information and resources. For agencies, the book is an efficient and affordable way to…
This volume highlights 7 simple steps that parents can take, which could help themselves and their children adjust more appropriately to the trauma and the pain that often follow divorce. It is written by Psychotherapist and Parenting Educator, Dr. Percy Ricketts, and in plain, simple language that parents will find enjoyable, informative and easy to read. (Author abstract)
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Journal Article The study includes a longitudinal sample of 1,989 fathers from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing study and examines factors associated with fathering a higher-order birth (three or more children) and compares these factors to those predicting any subsequent birth. Also, the article examines differences by marital status. Logistic regression analyses indicate the likelihood of fathering a higher-order birth is greater among more disadvantaged men in urban contexts, those with lower levels of education, the unmarried, minorities, and those exhibiting higher levels of depressive…
Long distance relationships are more common than ever. Reasons for this include technological advancements that allow for communication without being face-to-face, the popularity of online dating, and a rise in work related travel and military deployment. Maintaining an intimate bond with your partner while many miles separate the two of you is a challenge. This tip sheet offers ways in which couples can establish clear expectation and boundaries to stay connected and ensure that they maintain a satisfying relationship. (Author abstract modified)
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Journal Article Objectives. Because of their youth, adolescent parents often lack the interpersonal skills necessary to manage the relationship challenges involved in parenting, leaving them and their children vulnerable to the health risks associated with relational stress and conflict. The primary goal of this study was to test the efficacy of the Young Parenthood Program (YPP), a 10-week counseling program administered during pregnancy and designed to facilitate interpersonal skill development and positive parenting among adolescent parents. Methods. Participants included 105 pregnant adolescents and…
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Journal Article Father involvement in families of urban American Indians has been a neglected area of research. In this study, the authors examined the associations among parental relationship quality, father involvement, and coresidence. The authors conducted a multiple group analysis through structural equation modeling comparing 107 American Indian fathers with fathers of the general population in the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study. Although the results were similar between groups, findings indicated two key differences for urban American Indians. First, emotional supportiveness had a stronger…
Webinar
The Office of Family Assistance, through the National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse (NRFC), provided this technical assistance webinar for all responsible fatherhood practitioners, including current OFA grantees, and other interested stakeholders.
Fathers participating in fatherhood programs are often faced by a number of personal issues that act as barriers to achieving parenting, relationship, and employment goals. One of the most significant of these issues is substance abuse. This webinar shared lessons learned from the field and tips to help fatherhood practitioners…
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Journal Article Guided by maternal role attainment and identity theory perspectives, the authors examined the association between prenatal and postbirth father involvement and maternal identity for adolescent mothers and the moderating effects of interparental relationship quality. Mailed surveys were completed by 125 mothers age 14-19 years (67.2% White) who were recruited from a statewide school-based program. Maternal identity was operationalized as a latent construct composed of three indicators representing role validation, role strain, and identity salience. Analyses revealed that prenatal father…
