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Home > The Importance of Fathers in the Healthy Development of Children > Fatherhood Programs
The Importance of Fathers in the Healthy Development of Children
User Manual Series (2006)
Author(s): Office on Child Abuse and Neglect
Rosenberg, Wilcox |
| Year Published: 2006 |
Section II
8. Fatherhood Programs
Nationally and locally, there are numerous
fatherhood programs that strive to meet the
various needs of the many different fathers and
families. These programs fill the gaps left by social
service agencies, which have limited funding, suffer
from case overloads, and are unable to offer activities
beyond the scope of their responsibilities. There
is no one fatherhood program model—some are
informal support groups started locally and that
meet sporadically, some address the special issues
that affect fathers parenting special needs or adopted
children, others are structured to work with fathers
holistically to address stressors or behaviors that
can affect their abilities to support their children
emotionally and financially (such as unemployment,
noncustodial, or long-distance dads), and still others
work with incarcerated fathers or those involved in
family violence. Some are small, local activities while
others collaborate with larger social service agencies.
The goal of Section II is to provide examples and
contact information for communities, faith-based
organizations, agencies, or groups of individuals to
utilize should they wish to start their own groups.
Child welfare agencies can also discover ways to make
their agencies more father-friendly. Additionally,
to help guide referrals for fathers, these resources
provide a means for caseworkers to determine how
father-friendly other service providers are.
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8.1 Starting a Fatherhood Group
While there are many different types of fatherhood
groups serving many different kinds of fathers,
several core themes emerged from talking with the
leaders. The following are lessons learned in starting a
program or involving fathers in an existing program:
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Involve fathers whenever a program or agency
involves the mother (except in cases of safety
issues). The exclusion of fathers, even when they
wanted to be involved, was repeatedly mentioned
throughout discussions with various program
directors. One father working with a CPS worker
doing an investigation said the worker addressed
questions only to the mother and virtually
ignored the father.
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Have men lead the fatherhood programs.
Over and over again, men expressed that a father-led,
fathers-only group gives them the safety and
ability to open up about their doubts, fears, and
other emotions that would not be possible in a
co-ed group.
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Include the mothers in complementary
group activities. While the groups expressed
the previous point, the importance of a good
relationship with the child's mother was also
emphasized. Interaction and involvement with
the mother always were encouraged in other
group activities.
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Make the programs culturally relevant. As
one program head described it, "mainstream"
programs do not work for every cultural group,
and, in order to be effective, it is important to
recognize the differences that various cultures,
ethnic, religious, and socioeconomic groups face.
Appendix D, Cultural Competence Self-assessment
Questionnaire, provides program staff with a tool
to assess the cultural competency of both the
program and staff.
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Let the fathers help determine the type of
activities. While this does not work with all
groups or group settings, many groups let their
various branches determine what the needs of the
fathers in their area are. Under the same group
umbrella, some branches only sponsor fathers'
nights out while others have a year-long curriculum
teaching fathering and parenting skills, but they
let the fathers decide what they needed.
Exhibit 8-1 illustrates what various other groups have found helpful in starting a fatherhood program or group.
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Exhibit 8-1
Lessons Learned: Core Ideas for Building Successful Father-friendly Programs106 |
- Have strong male leadership; use men to market, recruit for, and facilitate the program;
- Build programs around the stated needs of the men in the program;
- Provide the leadership and men with the essentials of group and 1:1 leadership skills, including
building group norms, handling differences, listening, and confidentiality;
- Respect the "culture" of the men involved: geographic area, age, socio-economics, ethnicity, and race;
- Provide resources, education, and information (the "tangibles");
- Laugh, have fun through social times and activities (both for men only and with their families), but
with absolutely no alcohol involved;
- If possible, have developmentally appropriate father-child activities;
- Never let costs or money get in the way of father involvement (this includes transportation, child care);
- Be flexible in scheduling; find places and times where men can attend (i.e., individual education programs);
- Have family activities (family is everyone who is important in a child's life, such as grandparents and neighbors);
- Let men learn from other men (i.e., one-on-one and in groups);
- Have meetings in places that are friendly, easygoing, nonclinical, and relaxed;
- Know that numbers alone have little to do with program success.
- Always spend time "celebrating" successes ("bragging rights"); the men need unlimited opportunities
to "brag" about their kids and the value they have in their children's lives;
- Provide food or snacks. "Feed them and they will come." (Yes, food does make a difference!)
For further suggestions, read Circles of Care and Understanding by James May or visit the Fathers Network Web page at http://www.fathersnetwork.org.
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8.2 Promoting Responsible Fatherhood
One recent study researched and analyzed 300
community-based initiatives, and it offers the
following strategic objectives as a framework for
programs promoting responsible fatherhood:
- Prevent. Prevent men from having children
before they are ready for the financial and
emotional responsibilities of fatherhood.
- Prepare. Prepare men for the legal, financial,
and emotional responsibilities of fatherhood.
- Establish. Promote paternity establishment at
childbirth so that every father and child has, at a
minimum, a legal connection.
- Involve. Reach out to men who are fathers, whether
married or not, to foster their emotional connection
to and financial support of their children.
- Support. Actively support fathers in the variety
of their roles and in their connection with their
children, regardless of their legal and financial
status (married, unmarried, employed, and
unemployed).105
Several agencies are working with community-based
groups to address the issues confronting noncustodial
fathers. They recognize that many noncustodial fathers
are responsible parents who want to be actively involved
in the lives of their children. However, substantial
barriers may exist that prevent or inhibit a father's
involvement with his children. The National Center
on Fathers and Families identified the following seven
core findings about fathers based on the experiences of
the frontline people who work with them:
- Fathers care—even if caring is not always shown
in conventional ways.
- The presence of fathers matters—in terms of
economic well-being, social support, and child
development.
- Joblessness is a major impediment to family
formation and father involvement.
- Existing approaches to public benefits,
child support enforcement, and paternity
establishment operate to create obstacles and
disincentives to father involvement. The
disincentives are sufficiently compelling to have
prompted the emergence of a phenomenon
dubbed "underground fathers"—men who are
involved in the lives of their children, but refuse
to participate as fathers in formal systems.
- A growing number of young, unwed fathers and
mothers need additional support to develop the
vital skills to share responsibility for parenting.
- The transition from biological father to
committed parent has significant developmental
implications for young fathers.
- The behaviors of young parents, both fathers
and mothers, are significantly influenced by
intergenerational beliefs and practices within
families of origin.107
These findings offer a context for understanding the
challenges faced by many young and adult men who
want to become responsible fathers as well as the
programs designed to help them achieve that goal.108
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8.3 Developing Father-friendly Agencies and Programs
Establishing fatherhood initiatives in the communities
is not enough. It also is important for agencies and
programs to assess if they provide a father-friendly
environment. Important components include:
- The attitudes of staff;
- The inclusiveness of language and environment;
- The types of activities available for fathers;
- The scheduling of activities for nonwork hours;
- Media and communications;
- The presence of male staff and volunteers.109
(See Exhibit 8-2, The ABCs of a Father-friendly
Environment, for other ways to assess whether an
agency or program is father-friendly.)
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8.4 Working with Mothers
Many fatherhood program development experts agree
that it is crucial that mothers' perspectives be involved
in the planning of programs for fathers and that
mothers be given consideration in the development
of service delivery models. Additionally, fatherhood
programs should not merely replicate the single
gender focus of many of the current social service
programs serving mothers and children. Programs
that serve only fathers and their children could
possibly distort the family perspective as much as
programs that serve only mothers and their children.
Research finds that the quality of the mother-father
relationship is one factor that strongly affects a
father's willingness and ability to be involved with
his children. Studies indicate that many parents have
a positive relationship at the time of the baby's birth,
both mothers and fathers want to be actively involved
in their child's life, and disagreements among parents
may become more intractable over time. This has led
to an interest in working with the whole family from
the earliest intervention date possible.110
The issue of family violence is another important
reason for working with mothers as part of responsible
fatherhood efforts. Additionally, experts in the field of
domestic violence have identified the lack of services
for domestic violence perpetrators as one of the
areas that need improvement in order to strengthen
violence prevention efforts. Responsible fatherhood
program providers also are struggling with the issue
and some are developing curriculum and programs to
address this important issue.111
Exhibit 8-2
The ABCs of a Father-friendly Environment |
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If your organization aims to promote the importance of father and male involvement, this easy checklist will help to ensure that you have the building blocks of success.
Assets of fathers are emphasized, not their deficits.
Budget indicates that fathers are a priority.
Curricula and educational materials respect the range of fathers being served.
Diverse staff reflects the population using your services.
Environment clearly states that dads and men in families are welcome here.
Father-child bond is emphasized and encouraged.
Gender-neutral forms, policies, and procedures are employed.
Hands-on learning experiences are components of many activities.
Importance of fathers is promoted but not at the expense of mothers.
Journals, magazines, and reading materials reflect the interests of dads, too.
Knowledgeable men are recruited to address sensitive concerns of fathers.
Language is respectful and affirming of all parents and children.
Marketing plan invites many faces of fathers and promotes their full involvement.
Needs of fathers influence the program's growth and development.
Outreach staff recruit in locations that all types of fathers frequent.
Paternal and maternal parenting styles are recognized and respected.
Quality evaluation tools and procedures that respect fathers are in place.
Recognize and reduce barriers that limit father involvement.
Staff receives periodic best practices training to better serve fathers.
Targeted services are offered specifically for fathers.
Understand wide range of fathers' physical and mental health concerns.
Values are emphasized that promote gender reconciliation.
Women's and men's rooms each have a diaper changing station.
eXcellent advisory council and active speakers bureau are in place.
Young fathers are offered services.
Zealous attitude prevails that we are all in this together.
Adapted from: Tift, N. (n.d.). The ABCs of a father-friendly environment for maternal and child health agencies. Washington, DC: National Practitioners Network for Fathers and Families. |
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Exhibit 8-3
Identifying Potential Partners112 |
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Whether starting a Federal, State, local, or community program, it may be helpful to collaborate with other groups and organizations. The following types of organizations could be potential partners:
- Faith-based organizations and other groups that are in the community and have a general purpose to serve
or assist community residents often will make good partners, especially when there are common values;
- Employment and training agencies, such as Workforce Investment Act and Welfare-to-Work
agencies at the local level;
- Public social service agencies at the local level, such as the TANF (public welfare) agency, the local
Office of Child Support Enforcement, or the Employment Service;
- Private agencies such as the Boys and Girls Clubs and the YMCA;
- Service groups, such as the Junior League or the Kiwanis, which sometimes adopt special projects for
funding and other support;
- Educational institutions, such as local community colleges or universities, which may sponsor special
programs, local elementary and high schools, or early childhood education programs;
- State agencies, such as the TANF agency at the State level, the State Human Services agency, and
Workforce Investment Act and Education agencies at the State level.
Each group and community should identify the needs of the fathers and families it wishes to serve. Then
it is important to discover if such a program already exists or if there is a need to start a new program or
group. If the necessary services are already in place, then it may be much easier to collaborate with or
coordinate with the existing program. While collaboration is not always easy, it can be less burdensome
and faster than trying to create, finance, and operate a separate organization.
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8.5 Examples of Fatherhood Programs
As the manual has shown throughout, there are
numerous needs and reasons to strengthen the roles
of fathers. A wide range of programs exists to meet
many of the needs of fathers and their children. The
following were selected as examples of programs
that span the fatherhood initiative spectrum.
They illustrate some of the varied approaches and
activities for working with fathers, and along with
the Tips for Dads in Appendix E, address some of the
issues affecting the bond between fathers and their
children—deterrence of unprepared fatherhood, the
joys and difficulties of fathering, preventing child
abuse and neglect, parenting children with special
needs, adoption, and noncustodial fathering. The
programs are presented in alphabetical order and
provide descriptions as well as contact information.
In addition, Appendix B, Resource Listings, includes
national organizations that offer resources, products,
technical assistance, or other information that may
be beneficial.
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While listed in a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services publication, a program or organization's
inclusion does not in any way connote an endorsement of the programs nor were site visits conducted to gather
program or evaluation information for this report. Additionally, many programs across all cultural, tribal, ethnic,
religious, and socioeconomic lines were contacted; only those that provided substantive information were included.
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105 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (1997). An evaluability assessment of responsible fatherhood programs: Final report [On-line]. Available: http://fatherhood.hhs.gov/evaluaby/chapter1.htm#TOP; Levine, J., & Pitt, E. (1995). New expectations: Community strategies for responsible fatherhood. New York, NY: Family and Work Institute. back
106 May, J. (2002). Lessons learned: Core ideas for building successful "father-friendly" programs. Seattle, WA: Washington State Fathers Network. back
107 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (1997); National Center on Fathers and Families. (1994). Fathers and families: Building a framework to support practice and research. Philadelphia, PA: Author. back
108 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (1997); National Center on Fathers and Families. (1994). back
109 U.S. Departments of Agriculture, Education, Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, Justice, and Labor. (2001). Meeting the challenge: What the federal government can do to support responsible fatherhood efforts [On-line]. Available: http://fatherhood.hhs.gov/guidance01/ch2.htm#s4. back
110 U.S. Departments of Agriculture, Education, Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, Justice, and Labor. (2001). back
111 U.S. Departments of Agriculture, Education, Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, Justice, and Labor. (2001). back
112 U.S. Departments of Agriculture, Education, Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, Justice, and Labor. (2001). back
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