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Mailman School
of Public Health
Columbia University
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New expectations: Community strategies for responsible fatherhood James A. Levine and Edward W. Pitt The authors argue that community institutions dealing with families can be the positive catalyst to draw men into their children's lives. Yet, these same institutions - schools, early childhood centers, health and social service agencies, religious institutions, courts, and other community organizations - too often transmit negative expectations about fathers - whether unmarried, married, or divorced, employed, or unemployed - and their involvement with their children. While also calling for stronger family support and job creation programs to increase responsible fatherhood, the authors show how institutions across the U.S. are expecting and successfully encouraging men to act responsibly. Promising program approaches identified during an 18-month search have these ingredients: (1) they have high expectations for fathers' behavior; (2) they provide social supports (from another parent, mentor or colleague); and (3) they recognize the pivotal role of women (as mothers, spouses, and staff members). Program vignettes and quotes from participants and program personnel illustrate how negative expectations of boys and men can be replaced by positive, behavior enhancing ones to prevent pregnancy and premarital sexual activity, establish paternity, prepare teenagers and young men for parenthood (legally, financially, and emotionally), establish the emotional bond between father and child, and involve fathers in the daily care of their own children and those of others in their communities. The book includes exercises to help the reader explore personal attitudes and reactions to male involvement with children and practical tips to facilitate programs. It traces the history of ‘fatherlessness' as a social phenomenon in the United States and provides a directory to over 300 father-oriented community-based programs and organizations. It lists national resource organizations, and also includes an annotated listing of 100 helpful books and articles.
Families and Work Institute
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Disclaimer Free To Grow is a national program supported by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation with direction and technical assistance provided by the Mailman School of Public Health of Columbia University. |