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Training Materials Based on the experiences of the Colorado Fatherhood Connection, this guide for community organizations explains how to develop programs to promote father involvement in family life. The chapters describe the important roles of fathers and outline practical strategies for assessing the needs of the community and planning programs. Considerations for board structure, the identification of available resources, the definition of mission and goals, staff requirements, marketing strategies, and budgeting are discussed. The resource guide also provides profiles of effective models that have been…
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Training Materials Developed for peer support groups in the Parents' Fair Share Demonstration program, this curriculum is designed to enhance the parenting skills of noncustodial fathers. The 18 sessions address the rights and responsibilities of noncustodial fathers, child development and behavior, coping skills, anger management, and relationships with friends, partners, and coworkers. Other issues include racism, time and money management, and support networks. The manual includes guidelines for facilitators. Tips for modifying the curriculum, managing peer groups, and complying with confidentiality…
Brief
This information sheet discusses the balance fathers need to find between work obligations and family responsibilities, and proposes a new perspective that integrates career choices with family involvement. Key considerations that fathers should think about are listed, along with actions fathers can take to make sure they are balancing work and family, criteria for evaluating a family-friendly workplace, and tips for connecting with children.
Brief
With advice to fathers ranging from how to speak to toddlers so that they listen, to how to avoid gender stereotyping in young children, to how to maintain a connection with teenagers, FatherNeed is a resource for all dads -- including divorced fathers, fathers of adopted children, stepfathers, and fathers of special-needs children -- as well as moms who want kids who are meaningfully connected to their fathers. (Author abstract, modified)
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Training Materials This kit comes packed with publications that offer men insight into the very important role they play in their children's lives, plus friendly guidance on how to be an active, involved father. Kit includes "Being The Best Father You Can Be; A Parent's Handbook", "Fathers And Their Children's Education -- It's Important To Be Involved", and "Being A Good Father".
Report, Other
Children need and deserve financial and emotional support from both their parents. You will see from this webpage report how important it can be to have dad's involvement in children's education. The positive effects of father involvement have been a fairly consistent finding in studies of two-parent families. Now a growing body of research is showing that financial support and the positive involvement of a father, including cooperation between parents, increase positive outcomes for children who do not live with both of their parents. Moreover, research that separates father involvement…
Other
The Rochester Youth Development Study and the Pittsburgh Youth Study examined risk factors for teenage paternity, specifically the role of delinquency in early fatherhood. Both studies concluded that early delinquency is a highly significant risk factor for becoming a teen father. In addition, the Rochester study reported that the possibility of teen paternity rises dramatically as risk factors accumulate, and the Pittsburgh study found that teen fatherhood may be followed by greater involvement in delinquency. (Author abstract, modified).
Report, Other
As part of the Child Support Performance and Incentive Act of 1998, Congress established a medical child support working group to identify barriers to medical support enforcement and to recommend ways to address them. This webpage report is an effort to provide greater background on one such barrier - the lack of access by many nonresident parents to employment-based health care coverage. The report develops a national estimate of the extent to which nonresident fathers have access to employment-based health care coverage, and considers the potential for increasing the number of children…
Brief
This brief argues that welfare reform has not gone far enough to encourage two-parent families and responsible fatherhood. In fact, some of its own policies discourage this behavior. Furthermore, many poor families with young children are already struggling to stay together against the odds. Eventually, the majority of these families break up. By intervening early, government could help these fragile families scale the most common barriers to remaining intact over the long haul. (Author abstract)
Brief
The rise in single parenthood in the U.S. is well-known. Today, nearly a third of all children born in the United States are born to unmarried parents; the proportions are even higher among poor and minority populations--40 percent among Hispanics and 70 percent among African Americans. Yet, we know very little about these families, particularly about the fathers. Consequently, much of what we read in the newspapers or hear on television about unwed parents is based on anecdotal rather than scientific evidence. This policy brief is intended to dispel three common myths about unwed fathers and…