Policies That Strengthen Fatherhood and Family Relationships: What Do We Know and What Do We Need to Know?

Abstract

As described in earlier articles, children whose parents have higher incomes and education levels are more likely to grow up in stable two-parent households than their economically disadvantaged counterparts. The widening gaps in fathers' involvement in parenting and in the quality and stability of parents' relationships may reinforce disparities in outcomes for the next generation. This article reviews evidence about the effectiveness of two strategies to strengthen fathers' involvement and family relationships-fatherhood programs aimed at disadvantaged noncustodial fathers and relationship skills programs for parents who are together. Fatherhood programs have shown some efficacy in increasing child support payments, while some relationship skills approaches have shown benefits for the couples' relationship quality, coparenting skills, fathers' engagement in parenting, and children's well-being. The research suggests that parents' relationship with each other should be a fundamental consideration in future programs aimed at increasing low-income fathers' involvement with their children.

Examining Parental Alliance for Low-Income Participants Who Attended Relationship Education With or Without a Partner

“…Federal funding supported the implementation of CRE targeting lowincome families due to the overwhelming evidence indicating positive outcomes for children raised by parents in healthy relationships (Knox, Cowan, Cowan, & Bildner, 2011). While initial studies demonstrate encouraging results for the adults who participate in CRE, less is known about the influence of relationship changes on the long-term outcomes of children.…”

Decreasing Substance use Risk among African American Youth: Parent-based Mechanisms of Change

“…First, most family-centered prevention programs for African American youth have focused exclusively on the parent-child relationship, failing to address the needs and dynamics of two-parent households, in which co-parenting and couple relationship processes may play a key role in youth well-being (Cummings et al, 2002). Because of the salience of the interparental relationship to the parent-child relationship, scholars have emphasized the potential value of using the adult dyad as a point of intervention to change parenting (e.g., Knox, Cowan, Cowan, & Bildner, 2011), and some recent research of prevention programs has begun to emerge supporting this view (see Beach et al, 2014; Barton et al, 2015; Epstein et al, 2015; McHale et al, 2015). By working with both parents together, positive changes in parent-youth relationships may be more readily initiated and maintained (DeGarmo, Patterson, & Forgatch, 2004).…”

Paternité en contexte de violence conjugale : regards rétrospectif et prospectif

“…Les États-Unis ont un programme de congés parentaux beaucoup moins généreux; ils ont plutôt choisi d'investir un second champ d'intervention, qui mise sur des programmes de promotion du mariage et de prévention du divorce (par exemple, Building Strong Families) (Cabrera, 2010 ;Featherstone, 2009 ;Knox et al, 2011). Ces programmes sont perçus comme étant complémentaires à ceux d'aide aux familles et aux pères dits à risques (Early Head Start, par exemple) (Knox et al, 2011).…”

“…Ces programmes sont perçus comme étant complémentaires à ceux d'aide aux familles et aux pères dits à risques (Early Head Start, par exemple) (Knox et al, 2011). L'objectif lié à ce second champ d'intervention est d'augmenter le nombre d'enfants qui grandissent en bénéficiant du soutien de leurs deux parents.…”

“…L'objectif lié à ce second champ d'intervention est d'augmenter le nombre d'enfants qui grandissent en bénéficiant du soutien de leurs deux parents. Pour ce faire, on cherche à favoriser l'engagement paternel par le biais de programmes qui visent à augmenter la stabilité et la qualité des unions, lorsque les parents sont en couple, ou à aider les pères séparés à poursuivre leur engagement auprès de leurs enfants (Knox et al, 2011).…”