1. Chapter 10 Father Involvement and Family Literacy
Wasik, B. H. (2004). Handbook of family literacy. New York: Routledge.

2. Father Involvement Father-child interactions around literacy
Nature and effect of father's involvement in children's’ academics
Father’s parenting style
Father’s engagement with the family

3. Background issues in fatherhood and families

4. Framing of fatherhood is influenced by research and studies on the family
Prior to the 1960’s
Nuclear family
Fathers provided economically
Western interpretation of fatherhood

5. Examining the roles of fathers from multiple perspectives Cultural
Socioeconomic
Residence of the father
Incarceration
Employability
Racial
“What fathers do with and for their children is much more important than whether fathers simply co-reside or have frequent contact with the”, (Gadsden, Fagan, Ray, & davis,2001)

6. Fathers’ involvement in children’s schooling and early years

7. Father’s involvement in school Nord, Brimhall, & West, 1997
Two parent families with moderately to highly involved fathers–
Students were more likely to achieve high marks in school
Enjoy school
Less likely to repeat a grade
Non-resident fathers who were involved-
Similar results
Involvement with children
Mothers were more involved
Fathers how had not earned a high school degree
Less likely to be involved

8. Difficulties involving fathers
Time constraints
Large majority of teachers are women
Difficult relation with the mother (if separated, divorced, or remarried)
Programs may not focus on fathers

9. Fathering programs and practice

10. Focus on Fathers Resources for Children’s Health (RCH)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Non-profit
Primary focus
Supporting in parenting role
Male empowerment
Employment
Legal problems
2 hours per week for 12 consecutive weeks
400+ men each year
75% African American, 20% Latino, 5% other ethnic groups

11. The Fatherhood Initiative Program (FIP)
Philadelphia Mayor’s Office for Community Support
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Primary focus (fathers only)
Responsible fatherhood
Holistic parenting
Empower fathers to assume emotional, moral, spiritual, psychological, and financial responsibility for their children
Understand the challenges of fatherhood
Increase fathers skills in building and sustaining healthy relationships
6 – 8 weeks
men each year
80% from children’s protective services
20% court system and law enforcement
50% retention rate

12. Changing Fatherhood Raising Him Alone Campaign
Addressed single women raising sons
Work with Open Society Institute’s Campaign for Black Male Achievement
No direct services
Provide services through social networking and technology
13, 000+ receive Raising Him Alone Newsletter
Hundreds of men receive daily motivational messages on being a father
Advocacy
Support groups
Referrals to programs and services

13. Support from research

14. Research shows real and potential significance of the father’s role in literacy
Programs face multiple challenges in serving fathers
Research examines
How and whether fathers understand literacy
Do mothers and fathers differ in their understanding of literacy
Programs and their roles in supporting fathers in family literacy
Research is currently evolving and addressing the area of fathers

15. My Daddy Reads to Me