Getting back into regular contact with your kids after a long absence is a special challenge. Many men feel defeated by the past or discouraged because they haven’t kept up with their kids. However, fathers matter a lot to kids, even if they have been absent. Knowing who your father is and that he cares for you is crucial. Kids get part of their identity from their fathers. If the only thing they have is absence, they can imagine it’s their fault or that they didn’t measure up in some way. As the father, you can do things for your child that no one else can. Here are some things to keep in…
This InfoSheet presents research findings from the 2006 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services study, What About the Dads? Child Welfare Agencies' Efforts to Identify, Locate, and Involve Nonresident Fathers, which was conducted by the Urban Institute with the National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago. Based on this research, it offers ways in which caseworkers can locate and work with fathers to get them involved with their children.
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Journal Article Parenting programs have considerable potential to improve the mental health and well-being of children, improve family relationships, and benefit the community at large. However, traditional clinical models of service delivery reach relatively few parents. A public health approach is needed to ensure that more parents benefit and that a societal-level impact is achieved. The Triple P-Positive Parenting Program is a comprehensive, multilevel system of parenting intervention that combines within a single intervention universal and more targeted interventions for high-risk children and their…
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Journal Article Using a sample of resident fathers in the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study--Birth Cohort (9-month Father Study), this study examined how father involvement is associated with infant cognitive outcomes in two domains (babbling and exploring objects with a purpose). Results from a series of logistic regression models indicate that varied aspects of father involvement (cognitively stimulating activities, physical care, paternal warmth, and caregiving activities) are associated with a lower likelihood of infant cognitive delay. Two-way interaction models further indicate that father involvement…
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Journal Article AIM: Because very little is known about the parenting of drug-abusing men, this study was designed to document ways that drug abuse contributes to compromise of responsible fathering. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS: Generalized linear models and data representing different dimensions of responsible fathering were used to clarify ways that the fathering of 106 men receiving methadone maintenance treatment differed from that of 118 men living in the same community with no history of alcohol or drug abuse. MEASUREMENT: Men who enrolled in the study completed two structured interviews and a…
This document is to guide family services practitioners and fatherhood advocates in Minnesota as they work with fathers. The hope is that this information will help identify when an unmarried father is facing an issue that has important legal considerations or ramifications and provide some brief information. This is general educational information and not advice on any particular situation. More in-depth information on these topics can be found in the Unmarried Fathers? Guide to Paternity, Custody, Parenting Time and Child Support inMinnesota, at…
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Journal Article This editorial article discusses various reports published within the special issue of Early Child Development and Care entitled Men in the Lives of Children, which includes several articles on fathers and father involvement.
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Journal Article This article is a review of research on fathering and research on men employed in work with young children in centers and in elementary schools, which emphasizes the importance of positive male engagement with young children for their optimal development. Research also reveals the complexity of studying these relationships and the barriers in families and in society that impede the implementation of positive interactions. Suggestions are given for increasing positive male participation in the home and in educational settings. (Author abstract modified)
Note: This article is part of…
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Journal Article Father involvement in early childhood programs (ECPs) has increased rapidly during the past 10-15 years. This review of the authors' understanding of the current state of father involvement in ECPs employs two theoretical frameworks: ecological perspective and situated fathering. They draw from the research and practice literature to understand the current levels of father involvement in early education programs, the factors that support this type of father involvement, the barriers to father involvement, and strategies for increasing father involvement in ECPs. Recommendations for future…
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Journal Article This paper presents a case study of one local (United Kingdom) Sure Start programme's significant success in engaging large numbers of fathers with its services. The paper details both the levels of male involvement in the programme over time and the strategies found to be effective in involving men. Numbers of fathers using programme services rose to over 100 in 2005, with the total number of male attendances exceeding 1000 in that same year. The successful engagement of fathers in this programme's activities was found to be a result of a combination of both strategic and day-to-day…
