Failing Our Fathers ─ Confronting the Crisis of Economically Vulnerable Nonresident Fathers

Slandered as irresponsible, deadbeat dads, nonresident fathers are a greatly misunderstood population. These fathers are overlooked in discussions of poverty and economic vulnerability-often being viewed as the cause of social problems, rather than as having been abandoned by society. In Failing our Fathers, Ron Mincy and his colleagues present a more comprehensive picture of how these men face significant obstacles and explore unintended effects of policies designed to secure financial support for their children, the effectiveness of the few policies that have been designed to offer relief. As it turns out, more than five-million men are unable to provide financial support for their children who live elsewhere-a population far larger and more diverse than the inner city, unmarried, black and Latino men who have been the focus in the debate on disadvantaged fathers. Many of these fathers are significantly involved in the lives of their children, but their child-support obligations and long-term debts yield significant provider role strain. Using new research, Failing our Fathers recommends further policies and interventions that can enable noncustodial fathers to support their children, and help them become more involved in the lives of their children.

Ronald B. Mincy, PhD, is the Maurice V. Russell Professor of Social Policy and Social Work Practice at the Columbia University School of Social Work and Director of the Center for Research on Fathers, Children and Family Well-Being (CRFCFW). He is also a co-principal investigator of the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study. Monique Jethwani-Keyser, PhD is a Lecturer at the Columbia University School of Social Work (CUSSW), where she is teaching Human Behavior and the Social Environment, Adolescent Development, and Clinical Practice Evaluation.Serena Klempin, MSW, is a Research Associate at the Community College Research Center, Teachers College, Columbia University. She was most recently a Research Associate at the Columbia University School of Social Work's Center for Research on Fathers, Children and Family Well-Being.