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Journal Article The purpose of this study was to examine ethnic and marital status differences in family structure, risk behaviors and service requests among African American and Hispanic adolescent fathers participating in a community-based fatherhood program. Demographic factors, risk behaviors, and service requests were gathered at program entry. The results indicated that each group demonstrated distinct patterns associated with family structure, sexual risk behaviors, substance use, and criminal behavior. In comparison to African American fathers, Hispanic fathers were younger and were more likely to be…
The goal of this study is to use men's and women's reports of father involvement to determine the true couple mean level of involvement and the true discrepancy between their reports. It address the limitations of prior data collection and measurement strategies of father involvement. It also provides an overview of past literature that has attempted to unpack the similarities and differences in reporting of father involvement by mothers and fathers. Strategies for improving upon prior work are also discussed. (Author abstract modified)
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What is Coparenting? The relationship that two individuals, typically the mother and father, have in relation to parenting a child or children is called the coparenting relationship. This relationship is conceptualized separately from the romantic relationship since parents may not be romantically involved yet still cooperate to parent their shared children. This research brief discusses the results of two research questions analyzed with the Fragile Families data. First, among married and cohabiting couples who have just had a shared child: Are father involvement and coparenting associated…
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This guide offers a list of low-cost or free curricula to support efforts to strengthen relationships for singles, couples, parents or families. It will help you find Web-based and other resources including materials developed with federal funding that are available for public distribution. It is the second in a series of guides designed by Administration for Children and Families' (ACF) Healthy Marriage Initiative staff to support the implementation of valuable programs under the Healthy Marriage and Responsible Fatherhood Initiatives. (Author abstract modified)
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The research briefing, Fathers and Parenting Interventions: What Works? examines evidence about the engagement of fathers in parent education and training, and makes practical recommendations for how commissioners and service providers can improve local parenting services.We critically assess, and highlight gaps in, the evidence behind the most common parenting courses; pull together the latest research on how best to deliver services that work for mothers, fathers and children; and provide tips and strategies on how parenting services could better recruit and engage with fathers. The…
This 8-page guide summarises the evidence on the effectiveness of parenting programmes in supporting father-child relationships, and offers guidance on developing strategies and commissioning services which are father-inclusive. It includes the Executive Summary of Fathers and Parenting Interventions: What Works? and the 10-point Commissioning Checklist. (Author abstract modified)
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This PowerPoint presentation provides information on the benefits of healthy marriages and father involvement for children and explains the goals of the federal Healthy Marriage initiative. It cites statistics that indicate 45% of children raised by divorced mothers and 69% raised by never-married mothers live in or near poverty. It discusses culturally competent strategies for providing services to couples, the challenges faced by fatherless children, and the common vision of the Healthy Marriages and Responsible Fatherhood initiatives. Slides then highlight the corporate strategy of the…
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Training Materials This website presents the Extension Parenting Evaluation Decision Framework, an interactive program planning tool that allows professionals to evaluate parent education and training programs. The evaluation process consists of 10 steps that should take evaluators 20-30 minutes to complete. The steps include: reviewing personal perspectives, needs and asset assessment, issue identification, goal writing, objective writing, plan evaluation, choose program intervention, assess outcomes, report results, redesign program based on results. Each step includes directions for completing the…
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Journal Article Despite the proliferation of fatherhood programs designed to promote paternal involvement and positive family outcomes, evaluations of these programs are scarce. The Supporting Father Involvement (SFI) study is a randomized clinical trial comprised of 289 low-income Spanish- and English-speaking families living in California. The evaluation design reflects a partnership stance that promotes empowerment of staff and social service agencies. This article examines lessons learned from the program's first 3 years (2002-2004) from the perspectives of both evaluators and program staff. The lessons…
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Little is known empirically about the implications of parental incarceration for children. This policy brief summarizes research examining the effects of paternal incarceration on several measures of children's school readiness, identifies circumstances that increase or mitigate children's risk, and identifies family processes that mediate incarceration's effects, presenting opportunities for policy and service intervention. (Author abstract modified)
