Getting back into regular contact with your kids after a long absence is a special challenge. Many men feel defeated by the past or discouraged because they haven’t kept up with their kids. However, fathers matter a lot to kids, even if they have been absent. Knowing who your father is and that he cares for you is crucial. Kids get part of their identity from their fathers. If the only thing they have is absence, they can imagine it’s their fault or that they didn’t measure up in some way. As the father, you can do things for your child that no one else can. Here are some things to keep in…
This InfoSheet presents research findings from the 2006 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services study, What About the Dads? Child Welfare Agencies' Efforts to Identify, Locate, and Involve Nonresident Fathers, which was conducted by the Urban Institute with the National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago. Based on this research, it offers ways in which caseworkers can locate and work with fathers to get them involved with their children.
Until recently, the situation and capabilities ofunmarried parents, and unmarried fathers inparticular, were not well known. This infosheet presents findings from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study, which helps to fill the gap in reliable data available to guide policies and practice relating to unmarried parents.
Webinar
Presented by the National Healthy Marriage Resource Center on June 25, 2008, this 1 hour, 30 minutes webinar discusses key findings that have emerged from father involvement research and what they mean for fatherhood and marriage programming, research and policy developments that have lead to government sponsored programs that encourage responsible fatherhood and healthy marriages, and resources that marriage and fatherhood programs can use to strengthen their ability to understand and engage fathers and provide healthy marriage activities. The first presentation is offered by Dr. Natasha…
The second part in a 3-part series, this brief explains effective strategies for active listening between couples. The strategies include: use body language that signals that you are listening intently to your partner; after the speaker has communicated their point, pause to reflect on what has been said and replay in your own words what you believe the speaker tried to communicate; do not use restating your partner's communication as an opportunity to further state your point or voice a disagreement; and convey that you understand what has been communicated. A list of additional resources is…
The third part in a 3-part series, this brief explains common communication mistakes couples make including: criticism, sarcasm and cynicism, mounting a counter attack when feeling defensive, and engaging in the silent treatment. For each communication foul, an example is provided to illustrate the offending behavior and strategies are recommended for more effective communication. A list of additional resources is provided.
This fact sheet explores some common features of emotional cheating and offer strategies to avoid emotional cheating. It begins by defining emotional cheating as an intimacy between two people who are in a committed relationship to other persons and does not immediately include a physical relationship. Strategies for avoiding emotional cheating are then explained and include: save emotionally intimate conversation for your partner; set rules and expectations for your platonic friendship; be careful of online relationships and office relationships; and do not discuss intimate details about…
The sheet offers practical tips for guiding your program into the future, especially as many federal grants wind down. Managing the daily activities of a healthy marriage and relationship education (HMR) program can leave little time for thinking about the future. However, preparing for the future is a necessity for HMR programs interested in program sustainability. This tip sheet will: 1) define program sustainability 2) address important factors for achieving program sustainability and 3) provide guidance on how HMR programs can position themselves to carry on beyond the life of their…
This brief explains the differences between marriage education classes and marriage counseling sessions to help couples decide which is most appropriate for meeting their needs. The goals of marriage education are identified and include improving couple communication, resolving conflict productively, working together as a team, and strengthening the trust and commitment in the relationship. Couples are urged to seek marriage counseling if they can no longer manage issues and are questioning the level of commitment to their marriage. 5 references.
With over 100,000 military members currently deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan, many military couples continue to face the prospect of additional deployments. Keeping your marriage strong while you are apart takes dedication, patience, trust and commitment. The following tips can help you work towards building and strengthening your own healthy marriage. (Author abstract)
