Fathering at Risk Book

The decline of fatherhood is one of the most serious problems currently facing our society. While in 1960 both fathers and mothers were present in the same household in almost 81 percent of family households, by 2000 both biological parents were present in only 55 percent of family households. Unfortunately, this negative trend has continued into the new century. FATHERING AT RISK is an in-depth and informative examination of three groups of nonresidential fathers - teen fathers, older unmarried fathers, and divorced fathers - emphasizing the importance of a father's presence in a child's life, and concentrating on what society can do to reverse the dangerous trend toward absentee fathers. Moving beyond the realm of theory, the authors present a number of practical programs and strategies that have been successful in helping fathers from the three groups. These include specific plans that involve teenage fathers with their children, family-sensitive employment policies, new approaches for helping unmarried nonresidential fathers maintain contact with their sons and daughters, mediation to resolve parental conflicts, preparation for co-parenting, and alternatives to welfare. Divided into four parts, the first examines the problem of absentee fathers and why it exists. Part 2 offers perspectives and strategies for promoting effective fathering. Part 3 covers practical advice for counseling fathers at risk, and part 4 provides a discussion of social policy initiatives and a host of supportive programs. Case studies, helpful questions to consider, and appendix that offers a list of fathers' organizations and Web sites to assist readers, and numerous references for further reading combine to make this thoroughly researched and forward-looking discussion an excellent resource for everyone concerned with the plight of today's families.Read More