Engaging and Working with African American Fathers

"Have we come to the conclusion that African American men are unwilling or unable to participate in the important work of childrearing? Women certainly have a stake in the issue, and in Engaging and Working with African American Fathers: Strategies and Lessons Learned women take the lead to dispel this myth and clarify the social and policy reality of the vital work of engaging fathers. It is an essential contribution to fatherhood scholarship and analysis." Jacquelyn Boggess, Lecturer at University of Wisconsin School of Social Work and Executive Director at the Center for Family Policy & Practice "Rollins and her contributors have done a tremendous job in pulling together practices that will help to unify the current fragmented approaches to working with African American fathers. I would argue that this book must be regarded as a greatly important contribution to the fatherhood literature. It is invaluable for the manner in which authors combine the lessons learned on how to engage and work with both custodial and non-custodial fathers in the spheres of health, economics, and child development." Obie Clayton, Director of the Quality Enhancement Plan, ASA Edmond Ware Distinguished Professor in the Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice "This book is an impressive work by a team of extraordinary women! A must-read for fatherhood and family practitioners. The book illuminates the importance of understanding the challenges faced by African American fathers, yet, it also provides strategies for empowering them toward being the best fathers. This work is a genuine gift to the field of responsible fatherhood." Jeffery Johnson, President of the National Partnership for Community Leadership

Latrice S. Rollins is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Community Health and Preventive Medicine at Morehouse School of Medicine. She served as an enforcement/legal agent for the State of Georgia Department of Child Support Services for four years. Her specific focus on women in fatherhood and adding women's voices to the fatherhood field developed as a researcher and board member for the nonprofit organization Women in Fatherhood, Inc.

1. Overview of Systemic Exclusion of African American Fathers and the Case for Engagement Latrice Rollins 2. Engaging and Working with African American Fathers in Maternal & Child Health Debra Copeland and Petrice Sams-Abiodun 3. Engaging and Working with Fathers Towards Workforce Readiness: What About the Men?Angelia O'Neal 4. Engaging and Working with African American Fathers who are Alzheimer's Caregivers Latrice Rollins and Gina Green-Harris 5. Engaging and Working with African American Fathers in Prison: Fathers and Children Together Experience Initiative Diane Sears 6. Engaging and Working with African American Fathers in Schools Tasha Alston 7. Engaging and Working with African American Fathers in Child Welfare: A Glimpse into the System and the Lives of Foster Fathers in Louisiana Ruby Norris Freeman and Latrice Rollins 8. Engaging and Working with African American Fathers in Mental Health Services Latrice Rollins and Kisha Thomas 9. Engaging and Working with African American Fathers in Battering Intervention Programs Latrice Rollins and Carmen Ray 10. Engaging and Working with African American Fathers Experiencing Homelessness Latrice Rollins and Tonya Boose' 11. Conclusion: Moving to Father-Inclusive Services Latrice Rollins