Debate in infant adoption continues to center around the mother, child and prospective adoptive parents. No one mentions the birth father. The assumption remains that the birth father is missing or uncaring in his responsibility. Seventeen birth fathers agreed to be interviewed to share their personal experiences surrounding an unexpected pregnancy. The birth fathers recollect their feelings, emotions, and circumstances surrounding the decision to relinquish their rights. Birth fathers were caught in a cycle of abandonment.
This report contains the results of a survey of state statutes dealing with putative fathers. This survey was completed during the summer and fall of 1980 by the staff of the American Public Welfare Association. Its purpose was two-fold: 1) to examine the existing state laws on putative fathers with a focus on states' approaches to the due process requirements mandated by the Supreme Court cases of the 1970's; and 2) to identify approaches in existing state statutes which might be useful in making revisions to the proposed Model State Adoption Act. Accordingly, this paper focuses on two…
This final report presents information on the outcomes and accomplishments of the African American Male Adoption Project, which used an innovative approach to find adoptive homes for African American boys in Minneapolis and St. Paul, MN. The report describes the accomplishments of the project, including the development of specialized and ongoing family recruitment strategies, such as announcing the project in church bulletins, airing radio public service announcements, providing materials at African American community events, and compiling photo albums of targeted children. Other activies…
This fact sheet explores parental employment in low-income families and policies that can support low-income families. Findings from the research reviewed indicates 55% of all children in low-income families have at least one parent who works full-time and year-round; almost half (44%) of low-income parents with no employment reported they were not working because they were taking care of their families; and low-income parents who work are more likely to be employed in service occupations in which the are not only likely to have lower earnings and fewer opportunities for full-time employment…
Findings from social science research and marriage education are cited in this report to examine the government's role in supporting healthy marriages for the benefit of children. The analysis considers reasons for public policies that address marriage issues and the elements of effective marriage policy. Studies have indicated that law and public policies about marriage reduce the risk of juvenile delinquency, child abuse, parental mental health problems, and economic stress, which can result in significant societal and monetary costs. The authors suggest that public policies seek to…
The People Achieving Responsibility through Education, Nurturing, and Training (PARENT) program was implemented in Larimer County, Colorado to equip non-custodial parents to support their children emotionally and financially. Services include parenting skills education, employment assistance, case management, and referral. A grant from the federal Office of Support Enforcement was used to pay the child support obligations of compliant participants on a temporary basis. This report presents the findings of an evaluation of the PARENT program which considered attendance and characteristics…
Over the last decade, there has been a growing awareness of the role that fathers can play to support children in their early years of development. Those administering early childhood education programs have begun to reach out to parents for the specific purpose of promoting father involvement and leadership. Head Start programs have been a national model for parent involvement in early education and development and are now a national leader in linking father involvement to early childhood development and education. The recommendations and ideas in this fact sheet have emerged from the Head…
The National Center on Fathers and Families identified seven lessons that should be considered by policymakers and researchers concerned with the role of fathers in family life. This fact sheet provides a brief explanation of issues related to the diversity of ways in which fathers demonstrate care for their families, the value of father presence, the impact of joblessness on father involvement, and barriers created by the punitive nature of public policies. Other lessons focus on support for co-parenting, the developmental implications of fatherhood, and the influence of family culture on…
We use data from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study to explore how relationship quality among married and unmarried parents around the time of their baby's birth and in the subsequent year is associated with parenting of one-year-old children. We examine two measures of relationship quality (supportiveness and frequency of conflict) and two domains of parenting (positive engagement and spanking) for both mothers and fathers. We find a positive association between relationship quality and parenting among both married and unmarried couples, underscoring previous research on…
This resource profiles the experiences of efforts in nine states to provide mutual self-help parent support groups to fathers, grandparents raising grandchildren, icarcerated parents, parents raising children with special needs, parents in recovery, and rural parents. The document describes the contextual factors these groups face, and provides information on the different strategies states used to best meet the needs of families. Some strategies worked well in certain states and not as well in others. Geographic, demographic, and cultural variables impact service delivery. A range of…
