father involvement study

Father Involvement StudyFather Involvement Study

Tim BlackTim Black

Sky KeyesSky Keyes

Matthew Sagacity WalkerMatthew Sagacity Walker

Program Sites Program Sites Participating in StudyParticipating in Study

BridgeportBridgeport CCP, New HavenCCP, New Haven El Centro, HartfordEl Centro, Hartford VNA, HartfordVNA, Hartford ManchesterManchester MeridenMeriden MIOP, HartfordMIOP, Hartford

New BritainNew Britain NorwalkNorwalk NorwichNorwich TorringtonTorrington VNA, New HavenVNA, New Haven WaterburyWaterbury WillimanticWillimantic Yale, New HavenYale, New Haven

Ethno-Racial Makeup

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

Ethno-racial CharacteristicsEthno-racial Characteristics

16 C ities and Towns

34%

26%20%

20% C it ies

Subur bs

Lar ge To wns

Smal l To wns

Where Fathers Reside in CTWhere Fathers Reside in CT

Father CharacteristicsFather Characteristics

First Time Fathers

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

10%5%

10%15%20%25%30%35%40%45%50%

1

20 Years of Age or Younger at 1st Birth

Median AgesMedian Ages

At time of 1At time of 1stst Child Child

–20 years old20 years old

At time of 1At time of 1stst Interview Interview

–25 years old25 years old

Respondent Relationship with Respondent Relationship with Biological FathersBiological Fathers

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

Bio DadPresent

Close whileGrowing Up

Close at 1stInterview

Key Themes from Key Themes from 18 Month Report18 Month Report

New and Inexperienced FathersNew and Inexperienced Fathers

Trials and Tribulations of being a Trials and Tribulations of being a ProviderProvider

Present/ Absent FathersPresent/ Absent Fathers

Center for Social ResearchCenter for Social Research

www.centerforsocialresearch.org/www.centerforsocialresearch.org/

Children’s Trust FundChildren’s Trust Fundwww.ct.gov/ctfwww.ct.gov/ctf

http://www.centerforsocialresearch.org/

http://www.ct.gov/ctf

Number of Fathers Number of Fathers InterviewedInterviewed

One Interview: 35 fathersOne Interview: 35 fathers

Two interviews: 21 fathers (60%)Two interviews: 21 fathers (60%)

Three Interviews: 17 fathers (49%)Three Interviews: 17 fathers (49%)

Four Interviews: 11 fathers (31%)Four Interviews: 11 fathers (31%)

Hopes and DreamsHopes and DreamsFor those who had been incarcerated, For those who had been incarcerated, they hoped their children would avoid they hoped their children would avoid prison; for fathers who had struggled with prison; for fathers who had struggled with drug addictions, they wished their drug addictions, they wished their children would stay away from drugs; for children would stay away from drugs; for fathers who did not graduate high school, fathers who did not graduate high school, they wanted their children to graduate; they wanted their children to graduate; and for fathers who did not attend and for fathers who did not attend college, they wanted their kids to pursue college, they wanted their kids to pursue college. college.

Robert, 33-year-old fatherRobert, 33-year-old father““… … rich people … got it made because you rich people … got it made because you are with the right people. … You damn are with the right people. … You damn well know the President’s kids some day well know the President’s kids some day are going to be mayors and shit because are going to be mayors and shit because they are already in the clique. You got they are already in the clique. You got normal people that live normal lives like normal people that live normal lives like that average American, pretty much you that average American, pretty much you are stuck working in a factory and shit. … are stuck working in a factory and shit. … All I make is $35,000. How the fuck am I All I make is $35,000. How the fuck am I going to put my kid in college?”going to put my kid in college?”

FearsFears

For sons, they feared gangs and For sons, they feared gangs and drugs; for daughters, they were drugs; for daughters, they were concerned about early sexual concerned about early sexual activity, predatory men, and the activity, predatory men, and the stigma of teen pregnancy. stigma of teen pregnancy.

Rex, 32-year-old fatherRex, 32-year-old father

““I am going to do my best to not let them be I am going to do my best to not let them be a young mama. I think that’s important. a young mama. I think that’s important. That’s going to be like almost like number That’s going to be like almost like number one … because I don’t want my damn one … because I don’t want my damn daughters … any one of them … pregnant daughters … any one of them … pregnant at 15 or 17 or 18. I want them to be like in at 15 or 17 or 18. I want them to be like in their mid 20’s or late 20’s if they can help it. their mid 20’s or late 20’s if they can help it. … I am going to imbed it in their head … I am going to imbed it in their head because it’s crazy the way these young girls because it’s crazy the way these young girls today are all pregnant. I ain’t saying that’s today are all pregnant. I ain’t saying that’s bad, but that’s bad.”bad, but that’s bad.”

Fathering and the streetsFathering and the streets

… …many believed that their street many believed that their street experiences provided them with insights experiences provided them with insights and wisdom about how to navigate the and wisdom about how to navigate the difficult worlds that awaited their children – difficult worlds that awaited their children – this was seen as an asset. To avoid this was seen as an asset. To avoid prison, the streets, drugs, predatory men, prison, the streets, drugs, predatory men, and so on, their children would only need and so on, their children would only need to talk to them about it, because they had to talk to them about it, because they had been there.been there.

Nurturing and DiscipliningNurturing and Disciplining

Several described this as being a Several described this as being a “friend” to their children, while also “friend” to their children, while also making sure that their children making sure that their children learned to respect their parents learned to respect their parents and elders, learned that they were and elders, learned that they were not equals, and learned their place not equals, and learned their place in the family. in the family.

J, 22-year-old fatherJ, 22-year-old father ““I don’t want her to be scared [to tell I don’t want her to be scared [to tell me anything]. I want her to tell me me anything]. I want her to tell me everything. ‘Oh, Daddy, I like a boy.’ everything. ‘Oh, Daddy, I like a boy.’ Yeah? Well, don’t like him. …Change Yeah? Well, don’t like him. …Change your mind. …‘You don’t like the boy.’ your mind. …‘You don’t like the boy.’ Where is that boy going to get you? Where is that boy going to get you? He ain’t getting you nowhere. Give He ain’t getting you nowhere. Give me five reasons that you should be me five reasons that you should be with that boy. And five legitimate with that boy. And five legitimate reasons!”reasons!”

““Getting it right”Getting it right”

… … there was an expressed sense of there was an expressed sense of urgency, if not desperation, in getting it right urgency, if not desperation, in getting it right that stemmed from different sources: in that stemmed from different sources: in some cases, from their own past mistakes; some cases, from their own past mistakes; in other cases, from their efforts to be the in other cases, from their efforts to be the father that their fathers were not; and still in father that their fathers were not; and still in other cases, from the fear that there was other cases, from the fear that there was only a small margin for error when parenting only a small margin for error when parenting in the neighborhoods and schools where in the neighborhoods and schools where they lived they lived

J, 22-year-old fatherJ, 22-year-old father

““Sometimes [it’s hard], but sometimes I be Sometimes [it’s hard], but sometimes I be like it’s better for me to stay in the house like it’s better for me to stay in the house than go on the street and get in trouble … than go on the street and get in trouble … As the time goes by, I see myself maturing As the time goes by, I see myself maturing and thinking more wiser than how I used to and thinking more wiser than how I used to be. … Now I am like ‘Damn, I can’t do that be. … Now I am like ‘Damn, I can’t do that stupid thing. I got to chill. I got a seed at stupid thing. I got to chill. I got a seed at home.’ ... God forbid I get locked up … I home.’ ... God forbid I get locked up … I already missed like two or three months of already missed like two or three months of her life.”her life.”

Ray,31-year-old fatherRay,31-year-old father

““[There is a lot of domestic violence] [There is a lot of domestic violence] especially with the poor … Because people especially with the poor … Because people that have money, they can afford that have money, they can afford counseling. They can afford somebody else counseling. They can afford somebody else to mediate for them. They can afford to learn to mediate for them. They can afford to learn different coping mechanisms. But [around different coping mechanisms. But [around here] it seems to be people don’t go to here] it seems to be people don’t go to counseling unless they are mandatoried counseling unless they are mandatoried [mandated] by probation. Or they don’t get [mandated] by probation. Or they don’t get into anger management unless they are into anger management unless they are ordered to by probation.”ordered to by probation.”

Jobs And Family Economic Jobs And Family Economic StabilityStability

““Great Recession” In ConnecticutGreat Recession” In Connecticut

Formal unemployment at 9% for past yearFormal unemployment at 9% for past year

Real unemployment closer to 15%Real unemployment closer to 15%

22ndnd Interview Employment Data Interview Employment Data

Median WageMedian Wage

On-the-books jobs: $9.00On-the-books jobs: $9.00

Off-the-books: $8.00Off-the-books: $8.00

Range Of EmploymentRange Of Employment

Employed Full Time: 40 hours or moreEmployed Full Time: 40 hours or more

Underemployed: Up to 40 hoursUnderemployed: Up to 40 hours

Unemployed: Totally without workUnemployed: Totally without work

““Family Providers”Family Providers”

Employed full time but still struggling.Employed full time but still struggling.

HarryHarry

Worked full-time with stable employment but Worked full-time with stable employment but wage is low. Job security but no economic wage is low. Job security but no economic stability.stability.

Harry, 27-year-old fatherHarry, 27-year-old father

““My daughter’s diapers and my daughter’s My daughter’s diapers and my daughter’s needs come first. My rent comes second. needs come first. My rent comes second. My bills come last … but not the light bill. I My bills come last … but not the light bill. I have to have lights. … In the winter time the have to have lights. … In the winter time the gas companies can’t shut you off so I don’t gas companies can’t shut you off so I don’t pay my gas bill in the wintertime … I just pay my gas bill in the wintertime … I just don’t.”don’t.”

““Family Providers”Family Providers”

Employed full-time, better off than other fathers Employed full-time, better off than other fathers in our study.in our study.

Most still remained far from achieving ‘working Most still remained far from achieving ‘working class stability.’ class stability.’

Nonetheless, these were our economic Nonetheless, these were our economic “success” stories, and this “success” is what “success” stories, and this “success” is what other fathers greatly desired.other fathers greatly desired.

UnderemploymentUnderemployment

Involuntarily working one or more part-time Involuntarily working one or more part-time jobs, seeking full-time employment. jobs, seeking full-time employment.

Income cannot support a family.Income cannot support a family.

These jobs often lack advancement These jobs often lack advancement opportunities and health benefits. opportunities and health benefits.

James, 40-year-old fatherJames, 40-year-old father

““Where I work, I was told, ‘You are in a go-Where I work, I was told, ‘You are in a go-nowhere position. Once this guy [ahead of nowhere position. Once this guy [ahead of you] retires you are just going to continue you] retires you are just going to continue being a part-timer.’ There is no full-time being a part-timer.’ There is no full-time [after him]. They ended it. … [after him]. They ended it. … One less they One less they got to pay.”got to pay.”

Incarceration history negatively affected Incarceration history negatively affected employment chances: recurring theme.employment chances: recurring theme.

Jermaine, 20 year-old fatherJermaine, 20 year-old father

““As long as there is metal around I ain’t As long as there is metal around I ain’t never going to be broke … I will always get never going to be broke … I will always get out here and get my hustle on picking up out here and get my hustle on picking up scrap metal to make my daily quota to just scrap metal to make my daily quota to just survive, you feel me?... Buddy, I done survive, you feel me?... Buddy, I done already mapped this out. … This is not a already mapped this out. … This is not a game. This is life.”game. This is life.”

UnemploymentUnemployment

A lot of overlap between underemployed A lot of overlap between underemployed discussed previously and the unemployed.discussed previously and the unemployed.

Some had been underemployed or even been Some had been underemployed or even been formally employed at various points in the formally employed at various points in the study.study.

Deft navigation of limited resources: often Deft navigation of limited resources: often picking up any type of informal work they can.picking up any type of informal work they can.

Nathan, 28-year-old fatherNathan, 28-year-old father

Unemployed for one full year throughout all Unemployed for one full year throughout all four interviews.four interviews.


Unemployed for one full year throughout all Unemployed for one full year throughout all four interviews.four interviews.

““It’s really tough. …Like sometimes I get the It’s really tough. …Like sometimes I get the urge like I just want to give up, like not really urge like I just want to give up, like not really like kill myself but, damn … just clear my like kill myself but, damn … just clear my mind.”mind.”


““I couldn’t get a job at McDonald’s. You I couldn’t get a job at McDonald’s. You know? That’s crazy! [Nathan gets very know? That’s crazy! [Nathan gets very emotional here and is trying to hold back emotional here and is trying to hold back tears.] Shot me down. [I] just went tears.] Shot me down. [I] just went backwards. … I was hurt. Devastated… it’s backwards. … I was hurt. Devastated… it’s just like when a place like that won’t hire you just like when a place like that won’t hire you …”…”

Final Thoughts on EconomicsFinal Thoughts on Economics

None of the fathers in our study had None of the fathers in our study had reached a secure place of economic family reached a secure place of economic family stability.stability.

Final Thoughts on EconomicsFinal Thoughts on Economics

None of the fathers in our study had None of the fathers in our study had reached a secure place of economic family reached a secure place of economic family stability.stability.

The often blurry line between unemployment The often blurry line between unemployment and underemployment.and underemployment.

ViolenceViolence

Interpersonal and intimate violence were not Interpersonal and intimate violence were not uncommon in the households, schools, and uncommon in the households, schools, and neighborhoods where many of our fathers neighborhoods where many of our fathers grew up.grew up.

Over three-quarters (77%) of fathers had Over three-quarters (77%) of fathers had observed crime or violence in their observed crime or violence in their neighborhoods where they grew up and neighborhoods where they grew up and almost one-half (45%) had observed almost one-half (45%) had observed physical violence in their homes. physical violence in their homes.

Easton, 32-year-old fatherEaston, 32-year-old father

““A lot of people from the neighborhoods get A lot of people from the neighborhoods get up and see people dead. … It was that up and see people dead. … It was that rough. … In Jamaica, if you don’t know rough. … In Jamaica, if you don’t know nobody in a neighborhood you’re entering nobody in a neighborhood you’re entering it’s a wrap for you. They don’t care who you it’s a wrap for you. They don’t care who you is, they killing you. … They killed this dude is, they killing you. … They killed this dude and the next day they found the kid laying and the next day they found the kid laying on his father and his father was dead. That on his father and his father was dead. That was some sad shit …” was some sad shit …”

Todd, 29-year-old fatherTodd, 29-year-old father

““I still don’t like violence, but growing up in I still don’t like violence, but growing up in Hartford I had to fight. If I didn’t fight, I would Hartford I had to fight. If I didn’t fight, I would get my ass whooped every day. … Living in get my ass whooped every day. … Living in Hartford changed like my whole, whole Hartford changed like my whole, whole attitude. I went from being humble and quiet attitude. I went from being humble and quiet to being quiet but with an attitude. If to being quiet but with an attitude. If anybody say anything to me, I would snap.” anybody say anything to me, I would snap.”

Javi, 19-year-old fatherJavi, 19-year-old father

““Mainly it was abuse, physical abuse. … Mainly it was abuse, physical abuse. … When my mother was pregnant my father When my mother was pregnant my father actually came one day and he actually actually came one day and he actually grabbed my mother by the neck and put her grabbed my mother by the neck and put her on the wall and tried to lift her up. And I on the wall and tried to lift her up. And I guess he hit a couple of punches and all guess he hit a couple of punches and all that, but I was right on the couch looking at that, but I was right on the couch looking at that. And that [gave] me a lot of flashbacks that. And that [gave] me a lot of flashbacks about him.”about him.”

Jack, 23-year-old fatherJack, 23-year-old father

““[[Most of my memories of my father are] the Most of my memories of my father are] the abusive ones. … My dad would always beat abusive ones. … My dad would always beat my ass, beat my ass, beat my ass … verbal my ass, beat my ass, beat my ass … verbal abuse. He just curse a lot … ‘Fuck you. You abuse. He just curse a lot … ‘Fuck you. You fucking son of a bitch. I regret you are my fucking son of a bitch. I regret you are my fucking son,’ all that bullshit.” fucking son,’ all that bullshit.”


““The kind of life I grew up was going to get The kind of life I grew up was going to get my mother out of a bar room. … you know my mother out of a bar room. … you know like parents get like ‘I never wanted you. I like parents get like ‘I never wanted you. I didn’t want to have no kids.’ And I was like didn’t want to have no kids.’ And I was like ‘Well, why the hell did you have me in the ‘Well, why the hell did you have me in the first place? It’s not my fault I was born.’ I first place? It’s not my fault I was born.’ I didn’t ask to come in this world.”didn’t ask to come in this world.”


“…“…she has basically said there were a lot of she has basically said there were a lot of things that she should have done different in things that she should have done different in life and maybe a lot of us wouldn’t have life and maybe a lot of us wouldn’t have turned out, maybe, I don’t know, the way we turned out, maybe, I don’t know, the way we did or the way we are. Like I said to her, it’s did or the way we are. Like I said to her, it’s too late for that.” too late for that.”

Steven, 20-year-old fatherSteven, 20-year-old father

““[My father] hasn’t done anything for me. … [My father] hasn’t done anything for me. … When I was a kid I always told myself, ‘Don’t When I was a kid I always told myself, ‘Don’t fall for his tricks. Don’t fall for his tricks. fall for his tricks. Don’t fall for his tricks. When he calls you don’t bother. Don’t listen When he calls you don’t bother. Don’t listen to him.’ But I ended up trying to give him a to him.’ But I ended up trying to give him a chance. … And that’s the way it was my chance. … And that’s the way it was my whole life. He never came through with whole life. He never came through with anything.” anything.”

Jack, 23-year-old fatherJack, 23-year-old father

“ “Not every kid is perfect. You are going to Not every kid is perfect. You are going to lose a fight regardless. … It’s not only about lose a fight regardless. … It’s not only about losing or winning … you showed that you do losing or winning … you showed that you do fight.”fight.”

PrisonPrison

1/3 of respondents had been incarcerated in 1/3 of respondents had been incarcerated in prison at one time in their lives.prison at one time in their lives.

Staying away from violence in prison was a Staying away from violence in prison was a goal, but like neighborhood violence, was goal, but like neighborhood violence, was difficult to avoid.difficult to avoid.

George, 18-year-old fatherGeorge, 18-year-old father

““Somebody going to try to come up and say Somebody going to try to come up and say something, or try to take something from me. something, or try to take something from me. You only got one chance to make an You only got one chance to make an impression, you feel me. And as soon as impression, you feel me. And as soon as somebody touching my shit, if I let that shit slide somebody touching my shit, if I let that shit slide everybody going to think that’s all right. As soon everybody going to think that’s all right. As soon as somebody touches my shit I am going to as somebody touches my shit I am going to punch them in the face. I don’t give a fuck if punch them in the face. I don’t give a fuck if he’s six-foot seven or whatever. It’s the whole he’s six-foot seven or whatever. It’s the whole principle. You are going to know that I am going principle. You are going to know that I am going to fight for mines at the end of the day.”to fight for mines at the end of the day.”


““My Pops told me, ‘You come here and I find My Pops told me, ‘You come here and I find out you got your ass whooped, somebody out you got your ass whooped, somebody did something and you didn’t do nothing, I did something and you didn’t do nothing, I am going to fuck you up.’ I feel like if I [don’t am going to fuck you up.’ I feel like if I [don’t hold my own in prison], my Pops is going to hold my own in prison], my Pops is going to pop out of nowhere and fuck me up, you pop out of nowhere and fuck me up, you know what I am saying?”know what I am saying?”


““Yeah. At a playground you always going to Yeah. At a playground you always going to get into confrontation about something. As get into confrontation about something. As you get older you probably won’t have to you get older you probably won’t have to use it as much, but it’s just good to have, use it as much, but it’s just good to have, you know what I am saying, because you you know what I am saying, because you don’t know what’s going to happen. It’s just don’t know what’s going to happen. It’s just like going to school or taking a trade or like going to school or taking a trade or taking up something in school. Like you taking up something in school. Like you might not need it when you are older, but it’s might not need it when you are older, but it’s always something good to have.”always something good to have.”

Integrating Normative Expectations Integrating Normative Expectations Of Fathering With Violent Social Of Fathering With Violent Social

WorldsWorlds

Robert, 31-year-old fatherRobert, 31-year-old father

““If you are like fifteen or sixteen and you are If you are like fifteen or sixteen and you are in high school and someone pushes you in high school and someone pushes you and you go and tell the teacher, you are and you go and tell the teacher, you are going to get your ass whooped [by the going to get your ass whooped [by the students]. So if you are a teenager, the only students]. So if you are a teenager, the only thing I can really pretty much say is posse thing I can really pretty much say is posse up your boys because there is gonna be up your boys because there is gonna be some action.” some action.”

Ray, 31-year-old fatherRay, 31-year-old father

““I am not going to tell my kid, ‘Hey if I am not going to tell my kid, ‘Hey if somebody hits you then just take it.’ If somebody hits you then just take it.’ If somebody hits you, you have a right to somebody hits you, you have a right to defend yourself. … [If you don’t] they are defend yourself. … [If you don’t] they are going to keep at it. … The adult in me says going to keep at it. … The adult in me says talk it out. … I would hope that physical talk it out. … I would hope that physical repercussion would be the last resort. … Do repercussion would be the last resort. … Do I condone [violence]? No. Would I do it? I condone [violence]? No. Would I do it? Yeah.”Yeah.”

Tre, 20-year-old fatherTre, 20-year-old father

““I’ll teach him to defend himself, but I ain’t I’ll teach him to defend himself, but I ain’t going to teach him to just be like a bully. … I going to teach him to just be like a bully. … I am not saying I want him to run away and am not saying I want him to run away and be a punk about everything … but I don’t be a punk about everything … but I don’t want him to throw his life away because he’s want him to throw his life away because he’s out there … looking for fights.”out there … looking for fights.”

Fathers hope their children can Fathers hope their children can fall somewhere between the fall somewhere between the caricatured poles of the ‘hyper-caricatured poles of the ‘hyper-violent bully’ and the ‘nonviolent violent bully’ and the ‘nonviolent punk.’punk.’


““I left him laying there. One good one I left him laying there. One good one knocked him out. That’s it … that’s been two knocked him out. That’s it … that’s been two years ago. Ever since then [everybody] that years ago. Ever since then [everybody] that don’t know me, they done seen: ‘He [ain’t] don’t know me, they done seen: ‘He [ain’t] no joke.’… I mind my business, you mind no joke.’… I mind my business, you mind yours.”yours.”

For at least a subset of these fathers, For at least a subset of these fathers, there primary concern was not what there primary concern was not what heights their child might achieve but rather heights their child might achieve but rather what extreme lows they might successfully what extreme lows they might successfully avoid. avoid.

“With this study, it gets you with yourself…it helps me mellow out…I feel like I could tell you anything and I know

my word is safe with you…”

Jermaine, 20-year-old fatherJermaine, 20-year-old father

FINDINGSFINDINGS

NFN Home VisitingNFN Home Visiting Fatherhood ProgramsFatherhood Programs

– ListenerListener– Job PlacementJob Placement– Life SkillsLife Skills– Relationship CounselingRelationship Counseling

FINDINGS: NFNFINDINGS: NFN

““I been here plenty of times (during their I been here plenty of times (during their meetings). But I don’t really be like into their meetings). But I don’t really be like into their conversations. I am in my own world…she conversations. I am in my own world…she talks to my girl about little things and stuff talks to my girl about little things and stuff like that. Their business is their business, like that. Their business is their business, like our business is our business.”like our business is our business.”

-Nathan, 28-year-old father-Nathan, 28-year-old father

FINDINGS: Fatherhood ProgramsFINDINGS: Fatherhood Programs

Felix, 27-year-old fatherFelix, 27-year-old father

“…“…there should be a lot more there should be a lot more programs for fathers” programs for fathers”


Group and One-on-OneGroup and One-on-One

Harry, 27-year-old fatherHarry, 27-year-old father

““I think it should be both. I think you should I think it should be both. I think you should have someone come to your house, too. But have someone come to your house, too. But I also think like once in a while…have one I also think like once in a while…have one big meeting…get other insight from other big meeting…get other insight from other [fathers], too…”[fathers], too…”


GroupGroup

One-on-OneOne-on-One

Difficulties of Fatherhood GroupsDifficulties of Fatherhood Groups– TravelingTraveling– HonestyHonesty


1.1. ListenerListener

2.2. Job PlacementJob Placement

3.3. Childcare and Life SkillsChildcare and Life Skills

4.4. Relationship CounselingRelationship Counseling


ListenerListener

““They should have a men’s program [where] they They should have a men’s program [where] they could vent. … If they don’t have [an individual] to could vent. … If they don’t have [an individual] to vent [to], they can vent at a program. It doesn’t vent [to], they can vent at a program. It doesn’t

really have to be just how to be a father. It could really have to be just how to be a father. It could be anything …but being able to vent or get words be anything …but being able to vent or get words of encouragement…there is nothing above that…of encouragement…there is nothing above that…

Words of encouragement go a long way.”Words of encouragement go a long way.” - Felix, 27-year-old father- Felix, 27-year-old father


Job Training/ PlacementJob Training/ Placement

““I’d like to see a program that can help all I’d like to see a program that can help all fathers getting jobs. … There are a lot of fathers getting jobs. … There are a lot of fathers out here that got criminal records fathers out here that got criminal records

that can’t get a good job … or just can’t get that can’t get a good job … or just can’t get a job period.”a job period.”

-Jermaine, 20-year-old father-Jermaine, 20-year-old father


Childcare and Life SkillsChildcare and Life Skills

““I think it should be a mixture of a few things – I think it should be a mixture of a few things – child care and child development should be child care and child development should be in there. Job and career, that should be in in there. Job and career, that should be in

there. But just basically life skills in general. there. But just basically life skills in general. Money management [and] teaching people Money management [and] teaching people

… time management.”… time management.”-Ray, 31-year-old father-Ray, 31-year-old father


Relationship CounselingRelationship Counseling

““I want a program…about mothers and fathers and I want a program…about mothers and fathers and kids together – family. The whole family together kids together – family. The whole family together … everyone – the whole family. … These always … everyone – the whole family. … These always have to be a mother program or a father program. have to be a mother program or a father program. It can’t ever be a couple … focused more on the It can’t ever be a couple … focused more on the

family.”family.”

-Jack, 23-year-old father-Jack, 23-year-old father

Program Recommendation 1Program Recommendation 1

Provide access to a male home Provide access to a male home visitorvisitor

Home visitor should have strong Home visitor should have strong interpersonal skills, be an interpersonal skills, be an empathetic listener, supportive, and empathetic listener, supportive, and nonjudgmental nonjudgmental

Program Recommendation 2Program Recommendation 2Home visitors should perform the role of Home visitors should perform the role of advocate or cultural broker, in which they may advocate or cultural broker, in which they may help fathers better navigate dominant help fathers better navigate dominant institutions, particularly: institutions, particularly: – the courtsthe courts– child support enforcementchild support enforcement– prospective employersprospective employers– workforce training agenciesworkforce training agencies– banking and financial institutionsbanking and financial institutions– state agencies state agencies – and mental health organizationsand mental health organizations


Establish parenting groups with skilled male Establish parenting groups with skilled male group facilitators, who are fathers group facilitators, who are fathers themselvesthemselves

Teach nurturing parenting strategies and Teach nurturing parenting strategies and disciplinary practices, which include disciplinary practices, which include alternative strategies to corporal alternative strategies to corporal punishment.punishment.


Group facilitator should work with a martial arts Group facilitator should work with a martial arts instructor to address the issues of violence, self-instructor to address the issues of violence, self-discipline, and self-protection in a father’s group. discipline, and self-protection in a father’s group.

Parental concerns that children will need to learn Parental concerns that children will need to learn the codes that govern violence in some the codes that govern violence in some neighborhoods will need to be corroborated in a neighborhoods will need to be corroborated in a context of teaching a philosophy of self defense. context of teaching a philosophy of self defense.


Program collaboration with couple’s Program collaboration with couple’s counselors is recommended, counselors is recommended, especially if lower rates could be especially if lower rates could be negotiated and/or state subsidized, negotiated and/or state subsidized, so that relationship issues could be so that relationship issues could be voluntarily addressed voluntarily addressed

father involvement study

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