HEALING THE FATHERHOOD CRISIS IN FAMILIES
The data below records the prevalence of physical fatherlessness, which affects more than 25,000,000 children. Emotional fatherlessness—when dad is in the home, but not emotionally engaged with his child's life—affects millions more.
1. Current Data
- According to 72.2 % of the U.S. population, fatherlessness is the most significant family or social problem facing America.
Source: National Center for Fathering, Fathering in America Poll, January, 1999.
- An estimated 24.35 million children (33.5 percent) live absent their biological father.
Source: Krieder, Rose M. and Jason Fields. Living Arrangements of Children 2001. Current Population Reports, p. 70-104. Table 1. Washington, DC: U.S. Census Bureau, 2005.
- Of students in grades 1 through 12, 39 percent (17.7 million) live in homes absent their biological fathers.
Source: Nord, Christine Winquist, and Jerry West. Fathers' and Mothers' Involvement in their Children's Schools by Family Type and Resident Status. Table 1. (NCES 2001-032). Washington, DC: U.S. Dept of Education, National Center of Education Statistics, 2001.
- Sixty-three percent of black children, 35% of Hispanic children, and 28% of white children are living in homes absent their biological father.
Source: Krieder, Rose M. and Jason Fields. Living Arrangements of Children 2001. Current Population Reports, p. 70-104. Table 1. Washington, DC: U.S. Census Bureau, 2005.
- The 1997 Gallup Youth Survey found the following among U.S. teens:
33 % live away from their father
43% of urban teens live away from their father
Source: Youthviews, Gallup Youth Survey 4 (June, 1997).
RESOURCES FOR FATHERS
BabyCenter: The Dad Zone
http://www.babycenter.com/dads/
This site offers extensive consumer literature for new or expectant fathers
.
Bootcamp for New Dads
http://www.newdads.com/
Extensive training, tips and advice for new or expectant dads presented by new and "veteran" fathers.
Dads and Daughters
http://www.dadsanddaughters.org/
A non-profit, membership organization for fathers with daughters.
Father to Father
http://www.cyfc.umn.edu/communities/programs/ftf.html
This site offers links to electronic documents related to fathering, and a bibliography of fathering print resources.
Fathers: Connect for Kids Reference Room Topics
http://www.connectforkids.org/
The Connect for Kids (formerly Kids Campaign) web site offers a series of on-line articles on many issues relevant to fathers and fatherhood including ones on community building and involvement in schools. It also includes lists of fatherhood groups and state resources for fathers.
National Center for Fathering
http://www.fathers.com/
This site offers practical tips, an on-line bookstore and services for connecting fathers with other fathers as well as recent research findings on fatherhood.
National Fathers Network: Support for Fathers and Families of Children with Special Needs
http://www.fathersnetwork.org/
A non-profit organization devoted to supporting and offering resources for fathers of children with special needs, their families, and their service providers. Their site archives a newsletter for fathers, contains articles by dads, and lists additional resources.
The Practitioner's Page
http://www.npnff.org
This website is the home page for the National Practitioners Network for Fathers and Families. It offers a variety of professional resources for individuals who work to strengthen the role of fathers in their families.
RESOURCES ON FATHERHOOD/FATHERING
Father & FamilyLink
http://fatherfamilylink.gse.upenn.edu/index.htm
A site featuring several on-line research databases, fact sheets, and a contact list of related organizations. They also offer news updates and a calendar of upcoming events.
The Fatherhood Alliance
http://www.fatherhoodalliance.freeservers.com/
This organization's website serves as an on-line resource guide, providing links to more information for all types of fathers, including: gay fathers, special needs fathers, expectant fathers, grandfathers, teen fathers, and single fathers. The goal of the organization is to educate fathers, so as to better their fathering skills.
FatherNet (Children, Youth and Family Consortium, University of Minnesota)
http://www.cyfc.umn.edu/
This site features news, articles and publications relevant to fatherhood. It also offers a bibliography and hosts an e-mail discussion group for people interested in fatherhood issues.
The Fatherhood Project Home Page
http://www.fatherhoodproject.org/
Part of the Families and Work Institute, this project produced the Fatherhood USA documentary that aired on PBS. Their site lists publications and useful related links on fatherhood.
Fathers Matter Initiative: Advancing Responsible Fatherhood Through Community Foundation Involvement
http://www.ccfy.org/fathers/index.htm
This website of the Coalition of Community Foundations for Youth provides initiative to encourage greater father involvement in families.
Fatherwork - Brigham Young University
http://fatherwork.byu.edu
This site features stories, ideas, and suggested activities for and about fathering as generative work.
National Center on Fathers and Family
http://www.ncoff.gse.upenn.edu/
This organization is devoted to research designed to study and promote father involvement. Their site features on-line databases of policy research, events, and programs relating to fathers.
The National Latino Fatherhood and Family Institute
http://www.nlffi.org/
A collaborative effort of Bienvenidos Family Services, The National Compadres Network and Beahvioral Assessment, Inc. Emphasizes male/father involvement, healthy family development, and media campaigns to promote positive Latino father involvement. Serves as a clearinghouse to bilingual/bicultural materials, and fatherhood research.
Fatherhood/Family Formation
http://www.financeprojectinfo.org/win/familyformation.htm
This website is maintained by the Welfare Information Network and provides information about print resources, events and activities related to fatherhood and families. There are also links to federal and state programs and resources.
RESEARCH, REPORTS AND ARTICLES ON FATHERING
Child Support Enforcement Policy and Low-Income Families
Spring 2000 issue of Focus, a magazine of the Institute for Research on Poverty http://www.ssc.wisc.edu/irp/focus/focus.htm
This issue contains studies on fathers, mothers and children, child support and custody policy, and international perspectives. Full text is available in Acrobat format.
Face to Face with Fathers: A Report on Low-Income Fathers and Their Experience with Child Support Enforcement
http://www.cffpp.org/publications/face_to_face.html
Highlights from a report by the Center on Fathers, Families and Public Policy in Chicago about interviews with 71 fathers concerning the impact of public policy on low- income, non-custodial fathers.
Fathering: The Man and the Family - First Year Implementation Report
http://www.jcpr.org/newsletters/vol4_no2/index.html
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services report on its implementation strategy for the initiative to strengthen the role of fathers in families.
Fathers March-April 2000 issue of Poverty Research Center News
http://www.jcpr.org/newsletters/vol4_no2/index.html
This issue emphasizes the role fathers can play beyond that of breadwinner. A range of policy and program initiatives are reviewed. The difficulties that fathers, particularly low-income fathers, face in playing a meaningful role in their children's lives are chronicled. Full text and hyperlinks are available on-line.
How Men and Children Affect Each Other's Development - Kyle D. Pruett, M.D. Yale Child Study Center New Haven, Connecticut
http://www.zerotothree.org/fathers.html
This article discusses findings concerning the importance of male involvement in the lives of children.
Map and Track: State Initiatives to Encourage Responsible Fatherhood
http://cpmcnet.columbia.edu/dept/nccp/main5.html
From the National Center for Children in Poverty site, this page includes editions of this national report on state efforts to promote responsible fatherhood. Covers state profiles, programs, and national resources.
Research: Fathers
http://www.beachcenter.org/
Highlights from Beach Center on Families and Disability research on fathers conducted between 1993-1998.
Restoring Fathers to Families and Communities: Six Steps for Policymakers
http://www.span-online.org/restoring_fathers.html
This policy guide by Kathleen Sylvester and Kathy Reich, of the Social Policy Action Network gives state and local policymakers concrete ideas for encouraging fathers to support their children, financially and emotionally. The report is available in hard copy from SPAN or the Annie E. Casey Foundation 410-547-6600
AT HOME FATHERS
At Home Dad Network
http://www.angelfire.com/zine2/athomedad/athomedad.net
The network is a loose-knit grassroots organization for primary care dads who want to start up or join any activity to help connect at-home dads.
Dad Stays Home
http://www.dadstayshome.com
A new father thought it would be great to create a site where other "stay at home" dads could exchange ideas or stories and research parenting topics.
Slowlane.com: The On-line Resource for Stay At Home Dads
http://www.slowlane.com/
This site offers articles, media clips, suggested books, and other resources for fathers who stay at home. It also highlights services to connect fathers with other stay at home dads in their local communities.
MEN'S ISSUES
MenWeb - Men's Issues: Men's Voices Magazine
http://www.vix.com/menmag/
Provides information and support for men. Encourages men to creatively choose their roles in society, and to select healthy models of personal growth.
World Wide Web Virtual Library: Fatherhood Issues Page
http://www.vix.com/men/nofather/nodad.html#dad
Includes information on fatherhood and fatherlessness, including articles, statistics, testimony, and books. Provides a list of articles on the effect of welfare on fatherhood. This site polls readers about what it is like to balance fatherhood and work. Child Custody and Support Issues
Single & Custodial Father's Network, Inc.
http://www.scfn.org/
Single & Custodial Father's Network is an international, member-supported, non profit organization. The purpose is to help fathers meet the challenge of being parents, through informational and supportive services to fathers and their families.
HEAD START FATHERHOOD PROJECTS
The Father Factor: National Head Start Institute on Father Involvement
http://www.hsnrc.org/fatherhood/
The National Head Start Institute on Father Involvement was held June 14-18, 2004. The institute brought together leaders of every Head Start and Early Head Start program in the nation to focus on enhancing father involvement. Through the Institute and other related activities, the local Head Start program leadership, staff, and parents have the knowledge and skills needed to strengthen families and support the ongoing involvement of fathers in Head Start, and in the lives of their children. This, in turn, will contribute to the healthy development of and improved outcomes for children.
For Fathers
http://www.nhsa.org/program/fathers/parents%5Ffather%5Fres%5Flinks.htm
National Head Start Association's web source for the Fatherhood Initiative and Male and Father Involvement issues, including funding, partnerships, initiative models, and resources.
National Fatherhood Initiative
http://www.fatherhood.org/
This nonprofit organization offers an on-line catalog, a listing of on-line resources, tips and advice for fathers, and relevant links for further information.
Understanding the Role of Low-Income Fathers.
Mathematica Policy Research. Inc.
http://www.mathematica-mpr.com/earlycare/headstar.asp
Discusses research projects underway with the Early Head Start research consortium to study the role of fathers in Head Start families.
