The mission of the Fatherhood Movement is to reestablish the relationships between fathers and their children that are necessary for a strong society. This book examines the reasons why contemporary fathers are not involved in family life from the historical, social, economic, and spiritual perspectives. Written by experts from a wide range of disciplines, the chapters recommend actions that can be taken by individuals, organizations, and government agencies to engage fathers and support their families. Topics include the development of the Fatherhood Movement, the importance of fathers, the…
This study was designed to explore possible differences between adoptive and biological fathers in terms of how much they enjoyed being involved in child care and child rearing activities with their young children. Anonymous questionnaires were returned by 85 adoptive and 98 biological first-time fathers with one child age three or younger. The results indicated that adoptive fathers derived greater enjoyment from their involvement in their children's lives than did biological fathers. Interestingly, the two most significant items were enjoy caring for a dependent human being and enjoy…
Designed for parents, youth workers, and teachers, this book explores the complex interplay between the cultural forces that are molding and shaping the values, attitudes, and behaviors of youth. Section 1 discusses the characteristics of adolescents, how the Bible can help parents raising their children, and societal trends impacting adolescents. Section 2 describes how the media and music impact teens. Chapters explain how music molds adolescents, what the media is teaching teens, and how parents can lead their children through the maze of music and the media. The types of pressures…
Designed for parents, this book provides strategies for parents to use to mentor their children's development. It begins with a discussion on the importance of discovering the talents of a child, what is meant by mentoring, and using everyday activities for mentoring opportunities. Chapters 1 and 2 discuss the raising and nurturing of children, finding teachable moments, and the need to appreciate individuality, respect choices, encourage interests, and provide responsible guidance and supervision. Chapters 3 and 4 describe how parents can be on the lookout for identifying strengths in a…
This working paper explores the role of fathers and father-child relationships in the psychosocial development of adolescents by examining outcomes data from National Longitudinal Survey of Youth (NLSY) files on children and mothers. The survey uses a number of measures to evaluate child development and well being; other characteristics of children and mothers; information about family structure and household makeup; family income, home environment, and other sociodemographic factors; as well as children's perceptions of their mother, father, and or/step father. The initial survey was…
Concerns about the increase in fatherless families and the negative effects on children led to calls for social change from politicians, several national commissions, and a variety of articles and books. By the end of the 1990s, there were indications that a fatherhood movement was being formed as conferences were sponsored by organizations at the national, state, and local levels. This chapter evaluates whether recent actions to promote fatherhood represent a social movement, in terms of the identification of a core idea, the broad appeal of the issue, the distinction of the movement from…
Since 1984 policy makers have increasingly turned their attention to reforming the childsupport system. Despite this attention, the child support system has often failed to increase theeconomic security of single-parent families. This article sythesizes findings from recent qualitative studies to explain why the child support system "breaks down" for so many low-income families. This research suggests that parents often prefer informal arrangements of support and do not comply with child support regulations they perceive to be unfair, counterproductive, or punitive. It also suggests that…
1. Getting to Know Today's Adult Child. 2. When Your Adult Child is Not Succeeding. 3. When the Nest Isn't Emptying. 4. When Your Adult Child Moves Home. 5. Major Hurdles to Independence. 6. Conflicts Over Lifestyle Issues. 7. Becoming an In-law and a Grandparent. 8. Meeting Your Own Needs. 9. Developing a Confident, Growing Relationship. 10. Leaving Your Child a Positive Legacy. Study Guide.
Chapter 1: Taming the Mouse: Developing the Habits of Computer-Smart Parents. Chapter 2: Buying a PC: Understanding the Lingo, Being a Smart PC Shopper. Chapter 3: Upgrade or Move On? What to Do With an Old PC. Chapter 4: Where the Rubber Hits the Road: Buying Software That Makes Sense for Your Family. Chapter 5: Driver's Ed on the Internet, Part I: Learning Basic Concepts and Lingo. Chapter 6: Driver's Ed on the Internet, Part II: How to Go Online, Get Around and Communicate With Friends and Strangers. Chapter 7: Jump-Starting Your Child Into the Digital Age: Tips, Strategies and Suggestions…
This executive summary describes the methodology used to investigate strategies States are using to promote responsible fatherhood and outcomes of the study. A demographic profile of fathers is provided that includes information on working fathers, father involvement in schools, and child support. Findings from the report indicate: 38 of the 45 responding States are engaging in current activities using public awareness to promote responsible fatherhood; 37 States sponsor one or more initiatives to help prevent unwanted or too-early fatherhood; 43 States use strategies to help fathers be…
