Ronald B. Mincy - Failing Our Fathers : Confronting the Crisis of Economically Vulnerable Nonresident Fathers FB2, DJV, MOBI
9780199371143 English 0199371148 Maligned as "deadbeat dads" or sexually and financially irresponsible, inner-city fathers and overlooked in discussions of poverty and family policy, economically vulnerable nonresident fathers are a greatly misunderstood population. Fathering without Means summarizes the most recent rigorous and ethnographic research and fills in important gaps with new analyses. The result is a comprehensive picture of who these fathers are, what types of relationships they have with their families and children, and the challenges they face meeting what they, taxpayers and their children and families expect from them. The book argues that in the aftermath of the 2007-2009 Great Mancession, nearly 6 million----almost one of every eleven-- men will be unable to provide financial and other kinds of support for their children who live elsewhere. This population is far larger than the inner city, unmarried, Black and Latino men who have been the focus of the debate on disadvantaged fathers. Because so few could reduce the child support obligations that built up during the mass unemployment and incarceration over the previous two decades, they have long-term debts, which they may never be able to pay. Nevertheless, they play active roles as friends, mentors, educators, and disciplinarians for their children and they want to do more. However, they face several challenges, including: time and distance, new family obligations, contentious relationships with children's mothers--who just as often have new partners and children of their own-- and personal problems with drugs, alcohol and past or present jail time. Besides requiring these fathers to support their children, we must enable them to do so in ways that parallel how we require and enable vulnerable single mothers to do the same. The book lays out specific reforms required to do this and practical tips for those who are Fathering without Means., Slandered as irresponsible, deadbeat dads, nonresident fathers are a greatly misunderstood population. These fathers are overlooked in discussions of poverty and economic vulnerability-often being viewed as the cause of social problems, rather than as having been abandoned by society. In Failing our Fathers, Ron Mincy and his colleagues present a more comprehensive picture of how these men face significant obstacles and explore unintended effects of policies designed to secure financial support for their children, the effectiveness of the few policies that have been designed to offer relief. As it turns out, more than five-million men are unable to provide financial support for their children who live elsewhere-a population far larger and more diverse than the inner city, unmarried, black and Latino men who have been the focus in the debate on disadvantaged fathers. Many of these fathers are significantly involved in the lives of their children, but their child-support obligations and long-term debts yield significant provider role strain. Using new research, Failing our Fathers recommends further policies and interventions that can enable noncustodial fathers to support their children, and help them become more involved in the lives of their children.
9780199371143 English 0199371148 Maligned as "deadbeat dads" or sexually and financially irresponsible, inner-city fathers and overlooked in discussions of poverty and family policy, economically vulnerable nonresident fathers are a greatly misunderstood population. Fathering without Means summarizes the most recent rigorous and ethnographic research and fills in important gaps with new analyses. The result is a comprehensive picture of who these fathers are, what types of relationships they have with their families and children, and the challenges they face meeting what they, taxpayers and their children and families expect from them. The book argues that in the aftermath of the 2007-2009 Great Mancession, nearly 6 million----almost one of every eleven-- men will be unable to provide financial and other kinds of support for their children who live elsewhere. This population is far larger than the inner city, unmarried, Black and Latino men who have been the focus of the debate on disadvantaged fathers. Because so few could reduce the child support obligations that built up during the mass unemployment and incarceration over the previous two decades, they have long-term debts, which they may never be able to pay. Nevertheless, they play active roles as friends, mentors, educators, and disciplinarians for their children and they want to do more. However, they face several challenges, including: time and distance, new family obligations, contentious relationships with children's mothers--who just as often have new partners and children of their own-- and personal problems with drugs, alcohol and past or present jail time. Besides requiring these fathers to support their children, we must enable them to do so in ways that parallel how we require and enable vulnerable single mothers to do the same. The book lays out specific reforms required to do this and practical tips for those who are Fathering without Means., Slandered as irresponsible, deadbeat dads, nonresident fathers are a greatly misunderstood population. These fathers are overlooked in discussions of poverty and economic vulnerability-often being viewed as the cause of social problems, rather than as having been abandoned by society. In Failing our Fathers, Ron Mincy and his colleagues present a more comprehensive picture of how these men face significant obstacles and explore unintended effects of policies designed to secure financial support for their children, the effectiveness of the few policies that have been designed to offer relief. As it turns out, more than five-million men are unable to provide financial support for their children who live elsewhere-a population far larger and more diverse than the inner city, unmarried, black and Latino men who have been the focus in the debate on disadvantaged fathers. Many of these fathers are significantly involved in the lives of their children, but their child-support obligations and long-term debts yield significant provider role strain. Using new research, Failing our Fathers recommends further policies and interventions that can enable noncustodial fathers to support their children, and help them become more involved in the lives of their children.