David Moore

Paul Florsheim

Over the past six decades, there have been dramatic changes in the dynamics of family life in the United States. Today, about half of all babies born to mothers under the age of 25 will not live with their fathers for much of their childhood. From the perspective of many social scientists and politicians, this change has wreaked havoc on society by trapping women and children in poverty and loosening the civilizing bond between men and their families. But what is causing the phenomenon? Some place blame at the feet of the young men themselves, together with eroding cultural and family values. Others point to systemic failures in our economy or social support programs. Rather than assign blame, the first goal of Lost and Found is to tell the stories of young men as they struggle (with varying degrees of success) to become fathers. The second goal is to outline a strategy for helping young fathers remain constructively involved with their partners and children. Drawing from their research with over 1,000 young parents in Chicago and Salt Lake City, Paul Florsheim and David Moore focus on a group of about 20 young fathers, whose stories-conveyed in their own words-help the reader make sense of what is happening to fatherhood in America. Having interviewed young fathers and their partners before and after their children were born, these accounts provide a dynamic perspective on the development of young men and their relationships. Young mothers-the partners of these young men-both corroborate and sometimes offer alternative or contradictory perspectives. Oriented to undo stereotypes, the authors introduce the notion of "good-enough" fathering, tempering the tendency to think simply in terms of good or bad fathers. They go on to provide concrete recommendations for strengthening fathers' roles and helping young fathers and mothers create stable home environments for their children, whether the parents are together or not.

Young Fathers in the Age of Unwed Parenthood

Lost and Found

Developmental and clinical researchers have only just discovered the phenomenon of adolescent romance as a topic of serious scientific inquiry. This discovery may be related to the overwhelming evidence that adult romantic relationships are failing at alarming rates. Dramatic increases in the rates of divorce, out of wedlock childbirth, and relationship violence lead to questions about the developmental precursors of romantic love and commitment. What's wrong with love and can it be fixed? This book brings together a diverse group of experts from various disciplines to address a serious gap in the understanding of adolescent development. Part I focuses on romantic relations and sexual behavior from the perspective of normative adolescent development. Part II centers on high-risk adolescents and Part III explores the practical implications of current theory and research for clinicians, educators, and health administrators. Together the chapters in this integrative and clinically useful book lay a foundation for understanding how adolescents successfully navigate the tumultuous waters of young love.

Theory, Research, and Practical Implications

Adolescent Romantic Relations and Sexual Behavior

"Lost and Found is about how young men learn to be fathers and how we, as a society, can facilitate that learning and help stabilize families. Paul Florsheim and David Moore introduce a diverse group of young men whose stories represent different trajectories of young fatherhood. The stories featured in this book begin soon after these young men find out their partners are pregnant and move in different, and often unexpected, directions. Some young men--even those with significant problems--grow into parenthood and speak eloquently about connecting with their children. A few speak with disarming candor about becoming disconnected and lost. In six parts, Florsheim and Moore weave the individual stories of these young men into the larger story of fatherhood in 21st century America. While there is little doubt that America has a "fatherhood problem" characterized by high rates of father absence, Florsheim and Moore focus on understanding new family types and looking for ways to ensure their stability. They draw from the work of evolutionary biologists, social historians, developmental psychologists, and marital therapists to make sense of what goes wrong between young fathers and their families, seeking information about how some young men learn--despite the odds against them--to become "good enough" fathers. In the last section, Lost and Found builds a case for providing young men with more concrete institutional support and presents a plan for integrating expectant fathers into prenatal care, helping them become fathers, just as we currently help their partners become mothers. young fathers; adolescent parents; parenthood; co-parenting; father absence; family stability; father development; developmental psychology; prenatal care; co-parenting counselling"--

Paul Florsheim

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