Father School: Step by Step is a guide on how to set and run male groups that prepare fathers-to-be for the birth of their babies and teach them to be actively engaged in their children's upbringing following the principles of shared equal responsibility with children's mothers. This manual continues UNICEF tradition of publishing guidelines by nonprofit, nongovernmental, or public organizations and social services that use gender-sensitive methods in their social work. In 2009, the UNICEF Representation Office in Ukraine published Tato-Shkola: Yak Stvoriti Ta Zabezpechiti Stale…
Fathers' responses to parenthood and to their infants, the processes by which infants become attached, and differences in the nature and impact of mother- and father-child relationships are explored. Factors that influence father-child interactions and relationships are discussed, as well as characteristics of father-child relationships and changes in the relationship from childhood to adolescence. Numerous references.
This chapter challenges the deficiency mindset about fathers' involvement in parent education, discusses issues related to supporting fathers through educational programs, and suggests a series of best practices for implementing parenting programs. Recommended practices include promoting awareness of educational programs, utilizing a strength-based approach, and defining a clear, mal-friendly focus for the educational effort. 16 references.
The Caring Dads program is one of the first group intervention manuals designed specifically for men who have maltreated their children and / or exposed them to domestic violence. Developed and piloted over five years, this 17-session program draws from best practices in the fields of batterer intervention, parenting, child maltreatment, behavior change, and working with resistant clients. The Caring Dads manual provides clear, easy-to-follow guidelines and activities for the implementation of the program and is a useful tool for both experienced and relatively novice service providers.…
This chapter shows how conceptualization of father involvement can affect the design of intervention programs for adjudicated youth. A study involving 78 fathers of at-risk adolescents found fathers who reported using a greater number of past services for their adolescents were more likely to participate in family-based programs, as were fathers who reported poorer family problem-solving abilities, and fathers of adolescents with more severe behavior problems. A follow-up quantitative study of 20 fathers of at-risk adolescents found views on traditional family roles and feelings of inadequacy…
This chapter describes the theoretical foundations of the Positive Paternal Emotional Responsiveness (PPER) subscale of the Fatherhood Scale, which was designed to assess the childhood paternal bonds of adults. The PPER contains 13 questions that focus on the role of the father in the development of a healthy perception of self. Clients are asked to rate their experience with their father as a caring person and the frequency of paternal expressions of praise and love. The results can be used to identify areas for further exploration in therapy, such as strengths in the relationship between…
The effectiveness of fatherhood programs working with low-income and mostly noncustodial fathers are reviewed in this chapter, including results from the Children First program, eight federally funded demonstration projects designed to increase noncustodial parents access to their children, and the Parents Fair Share program. Lessons learned from the evaluations of these programs are shared. 30 references.
How to Help Young Dads Become Loving and Responsible Parents.If you work with young people and/or their children, ROAD to Fatherhood will help you develop comprehensive services for young fathers. Learn of the many needs of young fathers through their real stories together with strategies for helping them meet their individual and unique challenges. PLUS how to:* Plan before you start your program* Choose qualified and empathetic staff* Recruit young fathers* Evaluate curriculum* Promote your services* Celebrate each father's love for his childAre you already teaching teen moms? ROAD to…
This chapter examines the link between bargaining power and parental involvement in married, cohabiting, and noncohabiting parents. The discussion focuses on three elements of parental involvement that are significant for child development: money, time, and emotional care. Among these dimensions, one can be substituted for another but all three are supportive of each other. For example, a high level of father involvement is associated with greater levels of financial support, especially among noncustodial parents. Parents often bargain or negotiate with each other to increase involvement in…
In recent years a number of programs have been initiated to provide incarcerated fathers with education and training in parenting skills. This chapter reviews research, theory and the evolving practice of such programs, including experiences of 125 inmates who have participated in parenting classes while in prison. The psychosocial and social needs of incarcerated fathers; recruitment and barriers; program goals; evaluation strategies; and a summary of core information to guide program development are presented. Common characteristics of imprisoned fathers and various prison parenting…
