Involving Non-Resident Fathers In Children’s Learning  A *Fathers Matter* Report
  U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
September 2000
This document was prepared by the National Center for Fathering under contractACF-99-01-91 to theOffice of Child SupportEnforcementAdministration for Children andFamiliesU.S. Department of Health and Human Services
*This report does not necessarily reflect the position of the Departmentof Health and Human Services,and no official endorsement by the Department should be inferred.*
**U.S. Department of Health and Human Services**Donna E. ShalalaSecretary
**Administration for Children and Families**Olivia A. Golden Assistant Secretary
**Office of Child Support Enforcement**David Gray RossCommissioner
**The text of this report is in the public domain.Feel free to photocopy or reprint this report.**
*This report is available on the HHS Fatherhood Initiative Web siteat:*http://fatherhood.hhs.gov/involv-non-res00Table of Contents
Foreword andAcknowledgements
**Introduction**
**Chapter 1:  Why Fathers Matter**-  Research Confirms the Importance of Father    Involvement    -  Children do better when fathers are actively	involved  Child support from fathers improves children’s	educational achievementSupportive fathers enhance the social	development of children with special needs
-  Additional research would improve understanding	of non-resident fathers    **Chapter 2: The Role of Non-Resident Fathers**-  Who are non-resident fathers?    -  Non-resident fathers fit many different	profiles  The number of children with non-resident fathers	is growingHow can non-resident fathers stay involved    with their children?
Paternity establishment offers opportunities	to strengthen father-child bonds
-  Non-resident fathers rarely have joint physical	custody but most have visitation agreements or parenting time  Shared parenting allows many non-resident fathers	to remain active in children’s livesSchools and programs help non-resident fathers	share their children’s lives
-  How do non-resident fathers encourage    child development?    -  Fathers model behavior and social survival	skills  Positive father-child relationships enhance	children’s emotional developmentHow is the definition of fatherhood    expanding?
Many men are stepping into the role of	“father”
-  Some men serve as father figures  But children still need and want fathers
**Chapter 3: Strategies for Involving Non-ResidentFathers**-  Create a father-friendly environment    -  Assess program readiness  Modify practices to include non-resident	fathersPrepare staff to work with fathers
-  Reach out to non-resident fathers    -  Ask mothers for input and participation  Make father recruitment everyone’s jobProvide opportunities for father-to-father	support
-  Prepare fathers to help their children learn    -  Show non-resident fathers that they matter  Empower non-resident fathers to become	involvedStrengthen fathering skills
-  Encourage school involvement  Promote reading and playRaise fathers’ education and literacy	skills
-  Improve fathers’ financial	contributions  Find solutions to logistical barriersBuild the skills of young fathers
-  Strengthen family networks    -  Promote cooperative parenting  Develop guidelines for working with familiesAccess community resources for responsible	fatherhood
**Chapter 4: Getting Started**-  Resources on fathers and families   **Resources on fathers and families**-  Research Organizations  PracticePolicy and Advocacy
-  Resources from the U.S. Department of Education  Resources from the U.S. Department of Health and    Human Services
**References**

To order copies of this report, write, fax, or call:  Rayetta Byrd  National Reference Center  Office of Child Support Enforcement  U.S. Department of Health and Human Services  370 L’Enfant Promenade SW  Washington, D.C. 20447  Fax: (202) 401-5559  Phone: (202) 401-9383
In addition, this report is available on a *Fathers Matter CD-ROM* withadditional resources from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Servicesand the U.S. Department of Education, including *A Call to Commitment:Fathers’ Involvement in Children’s Learning* (also availableathttp://www.ed.gov/pubs/parents/fathers),video from the October 28, 1999, Fathers Matter! teleconference, a videodiscussion guide, overheads and talking points, and other tools and Internetresources. To order the CD-ROM or a printed copy of *A Call to Commitment:Fathers’ Involvement in Children’s Learning*, write, fax, orsend an e-mail to:  ED Pubs  Editorial Publications Center  U.S. Department of Education  P.O. Box 1398  Jessup, MD 20794-1398  Fax: (301) 470-1244  E-mail: edpubs@inet.ed.gov
You may also call toll-free: 1-877-433-7827 (1-877-4-ED-PUBS). If 877 serviceis not yet available in your area, call 1-800-872-5327 (1-800-USA-LEARN).Those who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) or a teletypewriter(TTY), should call 1-800-437-0833.     NOTICE:
This document contains examples, contact information, and Web sites forinformation created and maintained by other public and private organizations.This information is provided for the reader’s convenience. The U.S.Department of Health and Human Services does not control or guarantee theaccuracy, relevance, timeliness or completeness of this outside information.Further, the inclusion of information or addresses or Web sites for particularitems does not reflect their importance, nor is it intended to endorse anyviews expressed or products or services offered.     Where to?
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Last updated: 03/05/01