Young fathers frequently face family rejection, barriers to contact with child and mother, a lack of ways to contribute financially, and an inability to envision future achievements enabling them to function effectively as a father. Effective programs take account of ethnic differences and use culturally-sensitive outreach strategies and curriculum. Young fathers may need to be helped to understand that the structure of the families of their birth, heavily influenced by historical ethnic traditions and experience, may not be workable in the U.S. today. Programs also need to tailor their curriculum to the local socioeconomic climate. Urban youth, for example, need special employment counseling, given the exodus of entry-level jobs.
Effective counselors acknowledge the limitations of adolescent attitudes and economic realities.
Fathers already involved with their children are recruited at birthing centers, clinics, and preschools. To entice youth to enroll, recruiters talk about the benefits of the program, give fathers practical help at the outset, and arrange attractive, structured father-child activities. Thus, recruiters are honest and clear about all the ways a child benefits from having an involved father and also about how hard, but uniquely satisfying, fathering is. It is beneficial for the outreach worker to share, or be familiar with, the recruit's cultural background. It is crucial to help fathers get as much education as possible.