Effectively Serving Low-Income Fathers of Color

• Published in: Marriage & family review Vol. 42; no. 2; pp. 29 - 50
• Main Authors: Behnke, Andrew O., Allen, William D.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Taylor & Francis Group 01.10.2007; Haworth Press; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: African American; applied; best practices; Black people; context; ethnic minority; fatherhood; Fathers; Latin American Cultural Groups; Latino; Low Income Groups; Low income people; Minority & ethnic groups; Social policy; Social problems and social policy. Social work; Social Services; Social Systems; Sociology; Afro-American; Low income; applied; Social Environment; fatherhood; Chicano; Latino; best practices; context; Father; ethnic minority; Social action; African American
• ISSN: 0149-4929; 1540-9635
• DOI: 10.1300/J002v42n02_03

Though the last decade has demonstrated an increased interest in research on fathers of color, little has been written to aid professionals and policymakers who serve fathers of color. This literature review employs four dynamic conditions-microsystem, mesosystem, exosystem, and macrosystem-underlying a socioecological framework to present various key factors influencing the lives of low-income African American and Latino fathers. By integrating multiple levels of thinking about these fathers, we situate our suggestions for effectively engaging these fathers within the reality of these men's diverse contextual and social environments. Discussion also includes best practices and examples of programs to guide professionals and policymakers working to better the lives of families of color.