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Fatherhood Initiative Fathers want to be active in
raising their children. Fathers are
an integral part of their children’s lives, both in providing for their
children’s economic needs and in ensuring a safe and nurturing environment. The Federal Government supports efforts to
strengthen the role of fathers by encouraging them to take advantages of
work/life programs, consult with work/life coordinators about options,
participate in parenting and child care seminars and support groups. The Department of Agriculture also
supports this effort by ensuring that employees are made aware of available
work/life programs and resources available to support fathers’ involvement
with their families. Fathers are
encouraged to learn more about the work/life programs. Some of the programs include
family-friendly leave entitlements; child care resources; and workplace
flexibilities including alternative work schedules and telework. The Employee Assistance Program can offer
personal counseling. Employees should
ask for information about Federal employee health benefits and child support
enforcement procedures.
For further
assistance, fathers should contact their mission area/agency/staff office
work/life coordinators at http://www.usda.gov/da/shmd/worklifecoord.html.
Resources
Organizations:
Center for Fathers,
Families and Workplace Development The Center for Fathers, Families and Workforce Development is an independent nonprofit organization that focuses on grants for the development of Team Parenting pilot programs. Father Focus Father Focus is a counseling program that supports, encourages, and helps fathers develop and maintain close relationships with their children and families. Father Focus also provides a community of men who can talk about the joys and experiences of fatherhood. The Fatherhood Project The Families and Work Institute is a non-profit research and planning organization that conducts research on business, government and community efforts to help employees balance their work and family responsibilities. The Fatherhood Project is a national research and education program that examines the future of fatherhood and develops ways to support men's involvement in child rearing. National Center for
Fathering The National Center for Fathering conducts research and develops practical resources for training men who want to be better fathers. National Center for
Strategic Nonprofit Planning and Community Leadership (NPCL) The National Center for Strategic Nonprofit Planning and Community Leadership's mission is to improve the governance and administration of nonprofit, tax-exempt organizations and strengthen community leadership through family and neighborhood empowerment. National Center on Fathers
and Families (NCOFF) The National Center on Fathers and Families works to improve the life chances of children and the efficacy of families and to support the conduct and dissemination of research that advances the understanding of father involvement. National Fatherhood
Initiative The National Fatherhood Initiative was created to promote responsible fatherhood as a national priority, thereby improving the well being of children by increasing the number of children growing up with loving, committed, and responsible fathers. National Practitioners
Network for Fathers and Families, Inc. (NPNFF) The National Practitioners Network for Fathers and Families, Inc. is a network established to foster communication, promote professionalism, and enhance collaboration among individuals working with fathers and fragile families. The Urban Institute The Urban Institute seeks to increase citizens' awareness of important public choices and to improve the formulation and implementation of Government decisions affecting fathers. This is done through examining policies and conducting research related to non-custodial fathers, child support, and parenting. Books:
Most of these books are readily available through major retail and on-line bookstores. Bradshaw. J., Stimson, C., Skinner,
C., & Williams, J. (1999). Absent Fathers? A discussion of the social
implications of non-resident fathers for student of social policy and
professionals. Routledge. ISBN: 0415215935 Brott, A. A. (1997). The New
Father: A Dad's Guide to the First Year. Abbeville Press, Inc. A
handbook on all aspects of fatherhood during the first 12 months. Covers the
physical, intellectual, verbal, and emotional changes a child experiences in
the first year and the emotional and psychological developments the father
may experience. ISBN: 0789202751 Brott, A. A. (1998). The New
Father: A Dad's Guide to the Toddler Years.
Abbeville Press, Inc. A handbook on all aspects of fatherhood in the
second and third years of life. ISBN: 0789204800 Brott, A. A. (1999). The New
Father: A Dad's Guide to Parenting Without a Partner. Abbeville Press,
Inc. A resource for any father who is not living with the mother of his
child, with personal experiences of solo dads and advice from psychologists,
lawyers, and other experts. ISBN: 0789205203 Bryan, M. A. (1998). Prodigal
Father: Reuniting Fathers and Their Children. A description of a
step-by-step program to help fathers assume a role in their children's lives.
Three Rivers Press. ISBN: 0609802038 Canfield, K. R. (1995). The 7
Secrets of Effective Fathers. Tyndale House Publishing. Guidelines for
fathers to strengthen relationships with their children. ISBN: 0842359184 Epstein, L. (1996). Coaching for
Fatherhood: Teaching Men New Life Roles. Step-by-step approach to
coaching men to be better fathers. New Horizon Press. ISBN: 088282144X Glennon, W. (1995). Fathering:
Strengthening Connection With Your Children No Matter Where You Are.
Conari Press. Collection of stories that shares lessons and practical ideas
for fathers struggling to maintain meaningful bonds with their children.
ISBN: 1573240028 Goldman, M. J. (2000). The Joy of
Fatherhood: The First Twelve Months. Prima Publishing. Information for
new fathers on topics from financial planning to detecting infant illness,
organized in a user-friendly manner. ISBN: 0761504524X Hutchinson, E. O. (1995). Black
Fatherhood: The Guide to Male Parenting. Impact Publishing. Basic
principles of good parenting that stress the importance of a father's
involvement with his children, written specifically for black fathers. ISBN:
1881032094 Levine, J. S. (1998). Working
Fathers: New Strategies for Balancing Work & Family. Harcourt Brace &
Company. A practical guide to resolving work/family conflicts for fathers
with practical strategies for parents and businesses, profiles of
father-friendly companies, and tips for working mothers and fathers. ISBN:
0156006030 Levine, J. S. New Expectations:
Community Strategies for Responsible Fatherhood. Research and review of
community-based strategies with a guide to more than 300 programs nationwide
and the 100 most useful publications. Levine, J. S. Getting Men
Involved: Strategies for Early Childhood Programs. Guide for people in
early childhood programs who want to involve fathers and other significant
males in children's lives with profiles of 14 programs throughout the United
States and a resource section. Pruett, K. D. (2000). Fatherneed:
Why Father Care Is As Essential As Mother Care for Your Child. Free
Press. Explanation of how the father/child bond differs from the mother/child
bond and guide for successful, engaged fathering. ISBN: 0684857758 Sears, W., & Froelich, P.(1998).
Becoming a Father: How to Nurture and Enjoy Your Family. La Leche League
International. Advice for new fathers based on a philosophy of nurturing a
child. ISBN: 0912500212 Sullivan, S. A., & Sullivan, A.
(1992). The Father's Almanac. Doubleday. Advice, ideas, and
suggestions for fathers of infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. ISBN:
0385426259 Wolgemuth, R. D. & Blanchard. K.
(1999). Daddy Work: Loving Your Family, Loving Your Job, Being Your Best
in Both Worlds. Zondervan Publishing House. Describes how a man can
transfer skills learned at work to home and vice versa. ISBN: 0310228131 Related Web Sites:
·
National Fatherhood Initiative – http://www.fatherhood.org ·
The Fathers Network - http://www.fathersnetwork.org ·
Federal
Office of Child Support Enforcement ·
Federal
Interagency Forum on Child and Family Statistics ·
National
Center on Fathers and Families ·
National Child
Support Enforcement Association ·
Department of Education - http://www.ed.gov/parents ·
Department of Housing and Urban Development - http://www.hud.gov Disclaimer: This website
contains links to fatherhood and related websites created and maintained by
other public and private organizations. This information is provided
for the reader's convenience. The Department of Agriculture, Office of
Human Capital Management, Quality of WorkLife Division, does not control or
guarantee the accuracy, relevance, timeliness, or completeness of this
outside information. Further, these links do not intend or imply
endorsement of any views expressed or products or services offered. Home | USDA | Office of Human Capital Management
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