A study investigated the perceptions of 34 caseworkers and supervisors who participated in five focus group discussions on unwed fathers' involvement in permanency planning. The impact of parental statuses on caseworkers' capacity and inclinations to engage unwed fathers in child welfare permanency planning is examined, as well as how gender, socioeconomic status, child welfare, and family policies and practices collectively shape institutional opportunities and responses to paternal participation among unwed fathers in child welfare services. 35 references. (Author abstract modified)
Do you desire to unleash the potential in your kids? Do you want them to stand on your shoulders and soar to unfathomable heights? In The Difference a Father Makes, Ed Tandy McGlasson challenges dads to excel in fatherhood and equips them to do so. Using the model of Jesus and God the Father, he contends that setting up goal lines in the lives of children, marking when they enter into adulthood, is a must -- and a father's job does not end there. In a powerful way, he answers the "Yeah, but how?" question every man asks after being stirred to be a good father. Discover the potential you have…
Wild at Heart helped men to rediscover their masculine hearts--to be the men God designed them to be. Now this small book goes a step further, encouraging fathers to pass this insight on to their children. It is not by accident, contends John Eldredge, that little boys dream of being heroes and little girls dream of being rescued by a prince. It is woven into the very fiber of the sexes. Men struggle with this most pivotal role, and Eldredge's writing is the affirmation and encouragement each man needs.Eldredge gives fathers a look inside both themselves and their sons and daughters,…
Do you know whether your child is determined, influencing, soft-hearted, or conscientious? The key to effective parenting is knowing what motivates your child. The information and tools provided in Different Children, Different Needs will take the mystery out of the way you interact with each other. You'll begin to realize things you never understood about the best way to relate to each unique son or daughter. Your children will come to realize how God has designed and gifted them, growing in confidence and finding a sense of belonging. And you'll enjoy the fulfilling parenting experience you…
The result of an invited conference of scholars studying father involvement, this volume reflects on the conceptualization and measurement of father involvement within the academic and policy-making communities. It explores different measurement techniques and cultural influences impacting father involvement. The book begins by describing three of the most popular approaches to the study of father involvement and its impact: the binary approach, studies on the impact of separation and divorce, and interaction among fathers, mothers, and children. Following chapters address: assessing…
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 uses data from the Fragile Families Study to examine parental involvement by 2,776 unmarried fathers around the time of the child's birth. Findings indicate the father's ability to fulfill the provider role--demonstrated by his higher education, being employed, or higher wages--was linked to positive outcomes. Fathers who were employed were more likely to provide material support during the pregnancy and to visit the mother in the hospital; however, a father's hourly wage rate was the only significant economic characteristic predicting whether the father's name was on the…
This study analyses the ways in which intervention programs can evaluate their impact on father involvement using the Fathering Indicators Framework (FIF). It describes the conceptual and methodological issues involved in developing a framework that can address the specific needs of diverse groups of fathers, and the design and development of the FIF. A field study with fathering and family practitioners (n=36) highlights the complexities that may arise in implementing the framework in programs. 16 tables and 31 references. (Author abstract modified)
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…
