This brief highlights findings from research about the impact of father involvement on child development and well-being. The literature includes studies of intact families, as well as families in which children do not live with their father. In general, the research indicates that fathers can have a significant impact on cognitive development, academic achievement, and social development, especially when they participate in child care tasks and utilize a warm and nurturing parenting style. Child support is associated with positive cognitive, academic, and behavioral outcomes for children…
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Designed for social service providers, this document reviews public policies affecting fatherhood programs and offers recommendations for programs. It begins by discussing the impact of federal public policy on fatherhood programs and the inclusion of marriage promotion in social welfare policy. The trend towards stricter enforcement of child support requirements is noted, barriers impeding collaboration between fatherhood programs and social welfare programs are explored, and strategies fatherhood programs can use to promote collaboration with child support agencies are offered. The movement…
More than 10 million children have had a parent in prison. These children often live with their remaining parent or another family member, or in foster care. Children of incarcerated women placed in foster care are subject to the termination of parental rights requirements of the Adoption and Safe Families Act. The act specifies that termination petitions be filed when children live in foster care during 15 of the previous 22 months. However, no provisions are made for incarcerated parents who cannot attain custody during the time limit. Research has found that parental stress contributes to…
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When parents are incarcerated, they often leave children behind. In 1999, an estimated 721,500 state and federal prisoners were parents to nearly 1.5 million children under age 18. Who cares for children when a parent is incarcerated, and the services they and their caregivers receive, are clearly pressing issues. The needs that children have, and where these children are placed during a parent's incarceration-whether with the other parent, with a grandparent, relative, or in foster care-may have important implications for how children fare during a parent's incarceration. Elizabeth Johnson…
This fact sheet discusses the influence fathers have on children's health habits. Two of the most important modeling behaviors fathers can provide are their own diet and exercise habits. A 1999 study by Child Trends concluded that, "the most serious threat to the health of American children is the behavior of their own parents." Other research has found that families whose fathers modeled and supported good eating habits tended to eat more meals together, watch TV less, and exercise more often.
Brief
According to a wide body of research, children with a high sense of self are more able to see themselves as they really are, and they make good decisions and cope positively with the frustrations and challenges of life. They are much less likely to become involved with drugs and alcohol, become sexually active, and do poorly in school. Here are some National Center for Fathering strategies to help fathers build their children's self-esteem: Give your child unconditional love based on who she is, not what she does. Express love over and over and over. Respect your child. Treat her feelings…
Brief
We have all been thirsty. Our specific memories may be very different, but that all-consuming desire for relief is the same. Children feel that same urgent desire to be with their dads in a close, caring relationship. They yearn for male guidance and leadership, but too often it isn't there, so many children are forced to go on playing the game of life with that desperate, all-consuming thirst. Sometimes the need for acceptance and belonging gets so strong that they will try anything to quench their thirst--gangs, drugs, sex, etc. But those only provide temporary relief and soon make the…
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As the Bush Administration's "compassionate conservatism" agenda evolves simultaneous to debate on key legislation impacting families, there has been widespread debate and promotion of the Healthy Marriage Initiative. Marriage promotion initiatives and commissions on marriage are forming across the country as legislation such as the Promoting Safe and Stable Families Act, Child Support Enforcement Act, the Refugee Resettlement Program and the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) reauthorization emerge with potential healthy marriage provisions and funding. There is no question…
Training Materials, Other
This educational program provides School Administrators, Educators and Caregivers information that assists and encourages them as they develop male recruitment and involvement programs. If you would like to enrich the lives of children in your care by involving men in your program, this video provides a practical guide for reaching this goal. Getting Men involved video explains challenges or recruiting men, strategies for successful male involvement and sights successful programs. (Author abstract)
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The Dakota Fatherhood Initiative (DFI) is a grassroots collaboration comprised of various programs and individuals from North and South Dakota who work with fathers in a variety of settings. This includes hosting and planning an annual Dakota Fatherhood Summit each year with sites alternating between North and South Dakota. The Dakota Fatherhood Summit III was held in Fargo, North Dakota on May 21-23, 2003. Previous summits were held in Bismarck, ND (April 2002) and Pierre, SD (October 2002). The Summit provided the opportunity to address key issues regarding male and father involvement in…
