This chapter summarizes the main findings from research employing narrative methodologies on fathers of children with special needs. Analyses were conducted of two main data sets consisting of Latter-day Saint fathers of children with a variety of serious disabilities and chronic illnesses. One sample consisted of 16 fathers of young children with special needs and the other sample included 19 fathers with children of varying ages. Findings indicate the fathers felt a moral call to meet the needs of their children, they work hard to do so, and they bring strengths to this work. Many of the…
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 examines the conflict between domestic violence advocates and father involvement programs, responsible fatherhood groups, and fathers' rights groups that promote father-child relationships in a variety of ways. Father involvement programs emphasize employment training, child support, and preparation for parenthood as strategies for increasing the emotional connection between fathers and children, while responsible fatherhood groups focus on father-child relationships as a strategy for alleviating social problems caused by weak family structures. Fathers' rights groups promote…
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…
This booklet discusses the anger that everyone feels sometimes and the importance of managing anger. Causes of anger and anger that leads to abuse are addressed, as well as anger warning signs, strategies for controlling anger, healthy ways to express anger, healthy habits to help deal with anger, and positive outlets for anger. Additional information is provided for coping with a child's anger and teaching a child anger management skills. Sources of help and information are listed. The booklet includes worksheets throughout the text.
A simple, age-appropriate story about a young teddy bear on visiting day helps young children overcome feelings of abandonment by helping them understand why people are in prison, giving them ways to stay connected with their parent, and assuring them that incarceration is not their fault.
Third in a series of guides on encouraging father involvement in Head Start programs for young children, this guide discusses assessing program effectiveness in involving fathers and identifying what changes might need to be made to ensure that the program is as father-friendly as possible. It begins by explaining six stages of becoming a father-friendly program: understanding and appreciating fathers' vital contributions to healthy child development, creating an environment where fathers feel welcomed and valued, deciding what to do, recruiting fathers, operating the program, and sustaining…
Promoting health and recognizing illness in young children are not intuitive skills and many fathers lack the knowledge, skills, and confidence to safely care for the health and well-being of their children. The National Fatherhood Initiative's (NFI) Doctor Dad workshop was created in 2002 specifically to address this concern.This report is a summary of a formative-evaluation study on the Doctor Dad workshop and curriculum conducted by the Center for Social Work Research at the University of Texas at Austin. The formative evaluation was part of a pilot test to assess the effectiveness and…
Cheri Fuller shows readers how they can nuture their children to channel their natural energy and curiosity into positive, productive, and motivated learning experiences. With these principles, readers can: make education fun for their children; foster a creative learning environment; model positive behaviors and habits; help kids avoid burnout and manage stress.
Chapter 1: The Role of the Father: An Introduction. Chapter 2: Two Dimensions of Fatherhood: A History of the Good Dad-Bad Dad Complex. Chapter 3. African American and African Caribbean Fathers: Level, Quality, and Meaning of Involvement. Chapter 4: Latino Fathers: Unchartered Territory in Need of Much Exploration. Chapter 5: Social Science and Public Policy Perspectives on Fatherhood in the European Union. Fathering in Japanese, Chinese, and Korean Cultures: A Review of the Research Literature. Chapter 7: Fathers in Forager, Farmer, and Pastoral Cultures. Chapter 8. Fathers in Family Context…
