Adolescent Fathers Involved with Child Protection: Social Workers Speak

摘要: This study examined adolescent paternity through structured interviews with their social workers. It adds to the literature by exploring if there were young men involved child protection services (CPS) system who are fathers, identifying unique needs, and beginning discussions on working these men. CPS workers from six area offices one juvenile detention facility completed surveys for each father caseload. A 3.5% rate of was observed across offices. Information about nature men's involvement CPS, children, needs as fathers provided. paper also identifies some practice policy implications charged care. Approximately 408,425 children growing up in foster care placements throughout United States. Those committed state agencies comprise only a small portion 3.6 million (duplicate) have contact during course maltreatment investigations (U.S. Department Health Human Services [USDHHS], 2010a, 2010b). Across country, local authorities task ensuring safe environments facilitating healthy development come early life marked maltreatment, abandonment, tragedy, substance abuse, mental illness, criminal behavior. In addition provision basic those caring maltreated responsible supporting them they transition into adulthood, developmental process that can be significantly complicated adverse effects (Cicchetti & Totti, 2005; Wald Martinez, 2003). The adolescence adulthood is further when adolescents manage adult responsibilities such parenting. Despite research risk factors associated outcomes experienced (e.g., unstable employment, low educational attainment, abuse), an under-identified concern (Bunting McAuley, 2004; Guagliardo, Huang, D'Angelo, 1999; Thornberry, Wei, Stouthamer-Loeber, Van Dyke, 2000). WaId Martinez (2003) identified four groups youth at particular difficulty adjusting individual, relational, economic demands adulthood: (1) do not graduate high school; (2) justice system; (3) young, single mothers; (4) system. Explicitly missing (Guterman Lee, 2005). Many people, particularly impoverished households, ethnic minorities, likely fall multiple high-risk categories (Wald focuses males Connecticut Children Families (CT DCF) or expectant fathers. Research among females indicates 9% become parents while 50% within years leaving (WaId However, comparable rates been established. difficult obtain solid estimates paternity. National indicate 2-7% male teenagers fathered (Pleck, Sonenstein, Ku, 1993). Rates fatherhood substantially higher populations people living inner city contexts, African American youth, (Guagliardo et al., Smith, Howard, 1997; Thornberry Among urban range 12-24% age 19 28% 20 Stouthamer-Loeber W al. …