FATHERHOOD RELATED ABSTRACTS – March 2009 1 of 1 ABSTRACTS – March 2009 Compiled from the monthly e-mail update of new publications added to the Child Welfare Information Gateway library for the month of March 2009. Title: The Impact of the Georgia Fatherhood Program on Employment and Wages. Author(s): Bloomer, Stacey R.;Sipe, Theresa A. Published: 2003 Journal Name: Journal of Social Service Research v. 29, 4, 53-65 Available from: Haworth Press http://www.haworthpress.com Abstract: The purpose of this quantitative study is to examine the impact of a job-training program, the Georgia Fatherhood Program (GFP), on the employment levels and wages of low-income, non-custodial parents. A pretest/posttest design was created to compare GFP participants to a similar comparison group. Results of the research indicate that GFP participants experienced a significant increase in employment and gained wages similar to the employed comparison group. However repeated measures analysis revealed that previously employed GFP participants did not significantly increase their wages. The data suggest that the job-training program may be most beneficial to those individuals who are unemployed at the time of enrollment. There are two main limitations to the scope of this study, which relate to the size of the final sample. Also the power of repeated measure analysis is affected by the small sample size. The research presented here demonstrates that the noncustodial parents are able to move into the labor market despite having previously experienced very low levels of employment. Recommendations for future research are presented. (Author abstract) Title: The Effect of the Transition to Parenthood on Relationship Quality: An 8-Year Prospective Study. Author(s): Doss, Brian D.;Rhoades, Galena K.;Stanley, Scott M.;Markman, Howard J. Published: 2009 Journal Name: Journal of Personality and Social Psychology v. 96, 3, March 2009, 601-619 Available from: American Psychological Association http://www.apa.org/ Abstract: This longitudinal study examined the effect of the birth of the 1st child on relationship functioning using data from 218 couples (436 individuals) over the course of the first 8 years of marriage. Compared with prebirth levels and trajectories, parents showed sudden deterioration following birth on observed and self-reported measures of positive and negative aspects of relationship functioning. The deterioration in these variables was small to medium in size and tended to persist throughout the remaining years of the study. Mothers and fathers showed similar amounts of change after birth. The amount of postbirth deterioration in relationship functioning varied systematically by several characteristics of the individual,the marriage, and the pregnancy itself. In a group of couples who did not have children, results indicated more gradual deterioration in relationship functioning during the first 8 years of marriage without the sudden changes seen in parents, suggesting that the results seen in the parent sample may be due to birth. (Author abstract) Title: National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse: Factsheet. Published: 2009 Available from: National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse http://www.fatherhood.gov Abstract: A service of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Office of Family Assistance (OFA), the National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse (NRFC) collects and makes available information that promotes and supports the responsible fatherhood field, and specifically supports ACF-funded Promoting Responsible Fatherhood grantees. NRFC is also an essential resource for others to learn more about the importance of responsible fatherhood and fatherhood issues. (Author abstract) Title: Unmarried Fathers' Earnings Trajectories: Does Partnership Status Matter? Author(s): Garfinkel, Irwin.;McLanahan, Sara S.;Meadows, Sarah O.;Mincy, Ronald B. Published: 2009 Available from: Center for Research on Child Wellbeing http://crcw.princeton.edu Printable version (PDF): http://crcw.princeton.edu/workingpapers/WP09-02-FF.pdf Abstract: Married men earn more than unmarried men. Previous research suggests that marriage itself "causes" some of the difference, but includes few men who fathered children out of wedlock. This paper asks whether increasing marriage (and possibly cohabitation) following a non-marital birth is likely to increase fathers' earnings and labor supply. The analyses are based on a new birth cohort study -- the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study -- which follows unmarried parents for the first five years after their child's birth. Results provide some support for the idea that increasing marriage will lead to increased fathers' earnings. (Author abstract) Title: Diez maneras de ser un mejor padre (Ten Ways to Be a Better Dad from Strengthening Families and Communities: 2009 Resource Guide) Published: 2009 Available from: Child Welfare Information Gateway http://www.childwelfare.gov Document available online at: http://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/res_guide_2009/ch_six_spdad.cfm Printable version (PDF): http://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/res_guide_2009/ch_six_spdad.pdf Abstract: Fathers who spend time with their children increase the chances that their children will succeed in school, have