Catholic Charities Teen Fathers Program
(CFN contact) Barry Stallsmith, Father's Outreach Worker
Catholic Charities North
55 Lynn Shore Drive
Lynn, MA 01902
(781) 593-2312

Dads Make a Difference
(CFN contact) Sharyn La Haise, Director
Medford, MA High School
(781)393-2210

The Fatherhood Project, www.fatherhoodproject.org
Director: James Levine, PhD
Families and Work Institute
330 Seventh Ave., 14th Floor
New York, New York 10001
National research and education program which researches and supports fathers' roles in parenting

Malden High School Teen Parenting Program
(CFN contact) Kathy Lane, Teen Parenting Program Coordinator
Malden High School
77 Salem Street
Malden, MA 02148
781-397-1556

Resurrection Lutheran Fatherhood Program
(CFN contact) Reverend John Heinemeir
Resurrection Lutheran Church
94 Warren Street
Roxbury, MA (617) 427-2066
Fathering education for men on probation, in collaboration with Roxbury District Court.

The Teen Fathers Program
(CFN contact) Manuel Cardona, Program Director
YMCA of Greater Bridgeport
651 State Street
Bridgeport, CT 06604
(203) 334-5551

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Story contacts (The following is a list of people who have already been contacted by CFN and have agreed to speak with the press.)

Manuel Cardona
Program Director
YMCA of Greater Bridgeport
651 State Street
Bridgeport, CT 06604
(203) 334-5551

Rev. John Heinemeir
Pastor and Group Leader
Resurrection Lutheran Church
94 Warren St.
Roxbury, MA 02119
(617) 427-2066
Fathering education program for men of probation

Sharyn LaHaise
Dads Make a Difference
Medford High School, Medford MA
(781)393-2210

Dr. Lynn Margolies, Psychologist
National Center for Fathering
P.O Box 413888
Kansas, MO 64141
(800) 593-DADS www.fathers.com

Kathy Lane
Teen Parenting Program Coordinator
Malden High School
77 Salem Street
Malden, MA 02148
781-397-1557

Diana Maklouf
Teen Parent Daycare Coordinator
Malden High School
77 Salem Street
Malden, MA 02148
781-397-1556

John Martin
Group Leader, Assistant Chief Probation Officer
Roxbury District Court
85 Warren St.
Roxbury, MA 02119
(617) 427-7000, x 433
Resurrection Lutheran Fathering Education program

Barry Stallsmith
Father's Outreach Worker
Catholic Charities North
55 Lynn Shore Drive
Lynn, MA 01902
(781) 593-2312

Shereen Tyrrell
The Children's Trust Fund
The Children's Trust Fund supports the Resurrection Lutheran program with a grant
294 Washington Street, Suite 640
Boston, MA 02108
617-727-8957

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Experts (The following is a list of people who have already been contacted by CFN and have agreed to speak with the press.)

Margaret Carels
Alliance for Young Families
105 Chauncy Street
Boston, MA 02116
(617) 482-9122, ext. 114
Ms. Carels is a lobbyist for teen programs

David E. Drucker
Managing Director
Father's World, Inc.
P.O. Box 433
Massapequa, NY 11758-0433
www.webmaster@fathersworld.com
(516) 541-1116
Relevant area: Fathers' involvement in child care.

Leo Mickey Fenzel, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Psychology
Loyola College in Maryland
4501 North Charles Street
Baltimore, MD 21210
lmf@loyola.edu
(410) 617-2640
Relevant area: Psychotherapist who works with adolescents, adults, and families.

Travis R. Grant, M.S.
511 W. 1800 N.
Provo, UT 84604
Phone: (801) 344-8930
Relevant area: Teenage fatherhood.

Dr. Todd Gross, Psychologist
Director of Adams Street Associates, group practice that runs parenting groups and offers individual counseling for parents.
Contact through Nancy Martland, director of CFN , (617) 627-5314
Relevant area: works with and counsels fathers

Saul D. Hoffman, Ph.D.
Professor of Economics
University of Delaware
413 Purnell Hall
Newark, DE 19716
Phone: (302) 831-1907
Hoffmans@be.udel.ed
University of Delaware experts online: http://www.udel.edu/experts
Dr. Hoffman is an expert on the socio-economic effects of teen parenting.

Dr. Anthony E.O. King
Associate Professor of Social Work
University of Alabama
Email: aking@sw.ua.edu or King5@msn.com
Relevant area: African-American fatherhood, African-American families

Jack Miller
Family Support Manager
The Children's Trust Fund
294 Washington Street, Suite 640
Boston, MA 02108
Telephone: 617-727-8957
Relevant area: fatherhood

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Background (The following is a compilation of research, statistics, and clinical data.)

Teenage Parents: Basic Facts

To date this year there are approximately 955,325 pregnant adolescents. So far this year there were 388,100 babies born to adolescents this year. (Campaign for our Children, Inc., 120 West Fayette Street Suite 1200, Baltimore, MD, 21201, (410) 576-9015, http://www.cfoc.org/pregnancyclock)

Every 26 seconds another adolescent becomes pregnant and every 56 seconds an adolescent gives birth. (Campaign for our Children. 120 West Fayette Street Suite 1200, Baltimore, MD, 21201, (410) 576-9015, http://www.cfoc.org)

Research by the Department of Labor, the Government Accounting Office, and others, shows that programs that work for disadvantaged teenagers have 2 things in common: They link participants with local employers and then provide comprehensive, intensive support services to help teenagers succeed on the job. In 1993, the Center for Employment Training, a San Jose-based firm regarded as one of the most effective job-training programs in the country, raised the earnings of out-of-school youth by 33%.

In June 1998 the Massachusetts Senate decided to spend an extra $2 million on education and job training services for teenage parents. (The Boston Globe, June 17, 1998, City Edition, OP-ED; pg. A27)

76% of teen mothers are unmarried. 60% are 18-19 years old. Only one-third receives their high school diplomas. Nearly 80% of teen mothers end up on welfare.

Children of teen mothers have low birth weight, are more likely to perform poorly in school, and are at greater risk of abuse and neglect. Sons of teen mothers are 13% more likely to end up in prison. 22% of daughters are more likely to become teen mothers themselves. (The National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy, 2100 M Street NW, Suite 30, Washington, D.C., 20037, (202)261-5655, www.teenpregnancy.org)

Each year 11% of U.S. teens aged 15-19 and 20% of those who are sexually active became pregnant. The U.S. leads the developed world with twice the teen pregnancies of England, France, and Canada, and nine times those of The Netherlands and Japan.

One-fourth of teen mothers have a second child within two years of the first.

$29 Billion a year of public spending and social costs is spent on teen pregnancy.

Teen mothers are 50% less likely to finish high school. Children of teen mothers are more likely to grow up without critically needed emotional support and cognitive stimulation, resulting in lasting disadvantages. Children of teen mothers repeat twice as many grades and dropout of high school far more often. (Alan Guttmacher Institute and Robin Hood Foundation, The Parenting Project, 5776 Hamilton Way, Boca Raton, FL, 33496, 1-888-Parents, info@parentingproject.org, www.parentingproject.org)

When parents were asked if they were in favor of teaching relationship and parenting preparation skills to children in high school, 88% responded in favor. For children in Middle School, 82% responded in favor, and for children in elementary school 69% responded in favor. (Poll for Lake Snell Perry and Associates, July 29-August 1, 1999, poll taken out of 1,000 American Households. The Parenting Project, 5776 Hamilton Way, Boca Raton, FL, 33496, 1-888-Parents, info@parentingproject.org, www.parentingproject.com)

One recent analysis gives an estimate to the cost of early childbearing as having a $6 to $9 billion impact on federal and state budget, with $15 billion spent on social welfare as a result. (Maynard. (1997)."The costs of adolescent childbearing" In Kids having kids: Economic costs and social consequences of teen pregnancy. Washington, DC: Urban Institute Press.)

According to the US Census Bureau, 40 Percent of all American children live in homes without fathers. (The Plain Dealer, June 18, 1995, Bringing up Daddies, Editorials and Forum, pg. 2C)

According to a 1996 Gallup Poll on fathering, 79% of the Americans surveyed suggested that the most significant family or social problem facing America is the absence of the father from the home (www.father.com, citing 1996 Gallup Poll on Fathering)

Children in father-absent households have lower IQ's, and lower verbal and performance scores, than children in father-present households. (Johnson, D. J. (1996, January). Father presence matters: A review of the literature [LR-CP-96-02]. Philadelphia: National Center on Fathers and Families, Graduate School of Education, University of Pennsylvania.)

Children in father-absent households are more likely to experience emotional disorders and depression as compared with father-present households. (Johnson, D. J. (1996, January). Father presence matters: A review of the literature [LR-CP-96-02]. Philadelphia: National Center on Fathers and Families, Graduate School of Education, University of Pennsylvania.)

Men's relationships with their children's mother, social support, ethnic and cultural background, and fatherhood preparedness and role flexibility are all factors that significantly influence father involvement. An implication is that programs aimed toward encouraging responsible fathering should do so through changing cultural, economic, institutional, and interpersonal dynamics. (Doherty, W. J., Kouneski, E. F., & Erickson, M. F. (1996, September). Responsible fathering: An overview and conceptual framework. Prepared for the Administration for Children and Families and the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation of the US Department of Health & Human Services under contract HHS-100-93-0012 to The Lewin Group)

Positive father involvement contributes to the cognitive, socio-emotional, and moral development of children from infancy through early adulthood. (Report of the State of Connecticut Commission on Children, http://www.state.ct.us/coc/fatherho.htm)

Communities with high levels of father absence tend to also have high rates of poverty, crime, and young men in prison. (Report of the State of Connecticut Commission on Children, http://www.state.ct.us/coc/fatherho.htm)

The U.S. is now the world's leader in fatherless families. (National Fatherhood Initiative,

http://www.leaderu.com/fatherfacts/index.html)

Teen fatherhood is related to a variety of risk factors, such as social class, educational performance, precocious sexual activity, and drug use. (Thornberry, TP, Smith, CA, Howard, GJ. (1997). Risk factors for teenage fatherhood: Data from the Rochester Youth Developmental Study, National Center on Fathers and Families. Journal of Marriage and Family, 59: (3), 505-522)

The percentage of 17-19 year old males who favor an abortion if they make an unmarried girl pregnant has steadily declined in the recent years. In 1979, 25% favored abortion, but in 1995 only 14% endorsed the idea. The percentage that favored having the baby, and helping support it, has tripled over the same period, from 20 - 60%. (Survey from Family Planning Perspectives, January 1999)

Lack of support from family members, conflict with the child's mother and her parents, and unemployment due in part to a lack of job skills, are cited by researchers as some of the main obstacles facing teenage fathers. (Miller, D. B. (1997). Adolescent fathers: What we know and what we need to know. Child & Adolescent Social Work Journal, 14 (1), 55-69.)

Teenage fathers were found to have significantly greater rates of fertility and depression, as well as higher levels of parental satisfaction than men who fathered children in their 20s. (Heath, D. Terri; McKenry, Patrick C.; & Leigh, Geoffrey K. (1995). The consequences of adolescent parenthood on men's depression, parental satisfaction, and fertility in adulthood. Journal of Social Service Research. Vol. 20 (3-4), 127-148.)

In 1994, 24% of American children lived in single mother households, up from 8% in 1960. (Report of the State of Connecticut Commission on Children,

http://www.state.ct.us/coc/fatherho.htm)

Teen fathers are found to complete less years of school and are less likely to finish high school than men that are not teenage fathers. (Pirog-Good, Maureen A. (Dec. 1996). The education and labor market outcomes of adolescent fathers. Youth & Society. Vol. 28 (2), 236-262.)

A study confirms related findings of an association between delinquency and young fatherhood. 506 adolescent males aged 12-13 years in Pittsburgh were followed through their early twenties. Young fathers (males who fathered before the age of 19) were found to be twice as likely to be delinquent than nonfathers of the group. In addition, delinquency did not decrease after becoming a father. (Stouthamer-Loeber, Magda & Wei, Evelyn H. (Jan. 1998). The precursors of young fatherhood and its effects on delinquency of teenage males. Journal of Adolescent Health. Vol. 22 (1), 56-65.)

Teen fathers report that most striking obstacles to involvement with their children was their relationship with the mother. (Allen, W.D. & Doherty, W.J. (March, 1996). The responsibilities of fatherhood as perceived by African-American teenage fathers. Families in Society: The Journal of Contemporary Human Service, 77 142-155)

Adolescent males under the age of 20 fathered 129,579 live births to teenage mothers. (NCHS (1991) Center for Disease Control and Prevention. NCHS. 6525 Belcrest Rd, Hyatsville, MD 20782-2003. (301) 436-8500.)

According to the US Census Bureau, 40 percent of all American children live in homes without fathers. (The Plain Dealer, June 18, 1995, Bringing up Daddies, Editorials and Forum; pg.2C)

In a study of teenage parents and their children, disinterest in child rearing most consistently predicted univolvement. Fathers were less likely than mothers to report paternal disinterest as a barrier and more likely to attribute their lack of involvement to resistance in mothers. Of the fathers who cited disinterest, there was an association with lack of money and knowledge of childcare. Most teen fathers in this study were involved and interested in child rearing. (Rhein LM, Ginsburg KR, Schwartz DF, Pinto Martin JA, Zhao HQ, Morgan AP, Slap GB. (1997). Teen father participation in child rearing: Family perspectives. Journal of Adolescent Health, 21(4). 244-252.)

Men who are teen fathers complete fewer years of education and are less likely to finish high school compared with men who are not teen fathers. These educational deficits persist even after family and personal characteristics are taken into account.

Teen fathers enter the labor market earlier and initially earn more money than do other men; by the time teen fathers reach their mid-20's, however, they earn less. After controlling for personal traits and family background, the long term earning deficits of teem fathers disappear implying that teen fathers are as capable of providing for their children as are other young men from similarly disadvantaged backgrounds. (Pirog-Good, Maureen A. (1996). "The education and labor market outcomes of adolescent fathers." Youth & Society. Vol. 28 (2), 236-262.)

Teen fatherhood is related to a variety of risk factors, such as social class, educational performance, precocious sexual activity, and drug use. (Thornberry, TP, Smith, CA, Howard, GJ. (1997). Risk factors for teenage fatherhood: Data from the Rochester Youth Developmental Study, National Center on Fathers and Families. Journal of Marriage and Family, 59: (3), 505-522.)

Researchers who conducted an in-depth ethnographic exploration of a program intervention entitled "Young Unwed Fathers Pilot Project" strongly suggest that one improvement in the paternity determination system would be to link early declarations of paternity with referrals to education and employment services, rather than with immediate financial obligations. (Achatz, M., & MacAllum, C. A. (1994). Young unwed fathers: Report from the field. Philadelphia: Public/Private Ventures)

Allen, W.D. & Doherty, W.J. (March, 1996). The responsibilities of fatherhood as perceived by African-American teenage fathers. Families in Society: The Journal of Contemporary Human Service, 77 142-155

Campaign for our Children, Inc., 120 West Fayette Street Suite 1200, Baltimore, MD, 21201, (410) 576-9015, http://www.cfoc.org/pregnancyclock

Doherty, W. J., Kouneski, E. F., & Erickson, M. F. (1996, September). Responsible fathering: An overview and conceptual framework. Prepared for the Administration for Children and Families and the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation of the US Department of Health & Human Services under contract HHS-100-93-0012 to The Lewin Group

Father & Family Link. Website of the National Center on Fathers and Families. University of Pennsylvania. 3700 Walnut Street, Box 58. Philadelphia, PA 19104-6216.

(215) 573-5500. http://fatherfamilylink.gse.upenn.edu

Heath, D. Terry; McKenry, Patrick C.; & Leigh, Geoffrey K. (1995) "The consequences of adolescent parenthood on men's depression, parental satisfaction, and fertility in adulthood. Journal of Social Service Research. Vol. 20 (3-4), 127-148.

Johnson, D. J. (1996, January). Father presence matters: A review of the literature [LR-CP-96-02]. Philadelphia: National Center on Fathers and Families, Graduate School of Education, University of Pennsylvania.

Lamb, M.E. and Elster, A.B. (1986) The Role of the Father in Child Development, third edition. New York: John Wiley & Sons.

Levant, R.F. (1988) Education for Fatherhood. In P. Bronstein and C.P. Cowan (eds.),

Fatherhood Today: Men's Changing Role in the Family. New York: Wiley

McBride, B.A. and McBride, R.J. (1993) Parent education and support programs for fathers. Childhood Education, vol 70, no 1, pp4-9.

Maynard, R (1997). The cost of adolescent childbearing. Kids Having Kids: Economic Costs and Social Consequences of Teen Pregnancy. Washington, DC: Urban Institute Press. Urban Institute Press, P.O. Box 7273, Dept. C, Washington, DC 20044. (877) UI-PRESS; (877)847-7377. www.urban.org.

Miller, D. B. (1997). Adolescent fathers: What we know and what we need to know. Child & Adolescent Social Work Journal, 14 (1), 55-69

The National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy, 2100 M Street NW, Suite 30, Washington, D.C., 20037, (202)261-5655, www.teenpregnancy.org

The National Center for Fathering. P.O. Box 413888. City, MO 64141. -800-593-DADS. fax: 913-384-4665. http://www.fathers.com

The Parenting Project, Alan Guttmacher Institute and Robin Hood Foundation, 5776 Hamilton Way, Boca Raton, FL, 33496, 1-888-Parents, info@parentingproject.org, www.parentingproject.org

Pirog-Good, Maureen A. (1996). "The education and labor market outcomes of adolescent fathers." Youth & Society. Vol. 28 (2), 236-262.

Poll for Lake Snell Perry and Associates, July 29-August 1, 1999, poll taken out of 1,000 American Households. The Parenting Project, 5776 Hamilton Way, Boca Raton, FL, 33496, 1-888-Parents, info@parentingproject.org, www.parentingproject.com

"Project Fatherhood." Children's Institute International program designed to encourage low-income, urban Los Angeles fathers to participate in rearing their children.

http://www.childrensinstitute.org/Programs/father.html

Rhein LM, Ginsburg KR, Schwartz DF, Pinto Martin JA, Zhao HQ, Morgan AP, Slap GB. (1997). Teen father participation in child rearing: Family perspectives. Journal of Adolescent Health, 21(4). 244-252.)

Stouthamer-Loeber, Magda & Wei, Evelyn H. "The precursors of young fatherhood and its effects on delinquency of teenage males." Journal of Adolescent Health. Vol. 22 (1), 56-65 (Jan. 1998).

Thornberry, TP, Smith, CA, Howard, GJ. (1997). Risk factors for teenage fatherhood: Data from the Rochester Youth Developmental Study, National Center on Fathers and Families. Journal of Marriage and Family, 59: (3), 505-522.

Boys with absentee dads twice as likely to be jailed. The Washington Post, August 21, 1998. Page A3.

Bringing up Daddies, The Plain Dealer, June 18, 1995, Editorials and Forum, pg. 2C

Chartrand, S. (June 15, 1997) The special demands of working fathers. The New York Times, Careers section.

DeParle, J. (September 29, 1998). Report on Effort to Aid poor Fathers Offers Discouraging News The New York Times, Section A, p 16.

Dreazen, Y. (June 3, 1997). Dad's in the dark: Survey: Men lack knowledge of kids. Chicago Sun-Times, NWS p4.

"Fatherhood USA," Documentary (1997), Paradise Productions, New York, NY

Lawlor, J. (April 26, 1998). The number of fathers caring for kids is the best kept secret. The New York Times.

Ribandeneira, D. (February 16, 1998). Churches reaching out to men. The Boston Globe, page A1. Includes references to Resurrection Lutheran Church.

Stewart, Mark. (February 22, 1998). Responsibility making a man out of Rice. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

Discusses the life of a teenage father in Wisconsin.

"Teen Dad and Proud of It!" The Boston Parents' Paper, February 1999

Teen Fathers grow up: US survey indicates young men are feeling more responsible, The Gazette (Montreal), January 8, 1999, Living; p. D12T

US sees 25% rise over 3 years in number of single fathers. The Boston Globe. Associated Press. (Dec. 11, 1998).

Wolf, Richard. (June 19, 1998). Movement is helping fatherhood to health. USA Today.

Programs targeted to better fathering increase.