Profile of Non-Custdial Fathers.

The following data was based on an evaluation of the program conducted by Spectrum Research & Consulting, Inc., the target population of fathers served by the program generally fits the following demographic profile:

• The age of participants ranges from 16 to 53, with an average age of 30 years, seven months.
• At least 90% of the fathers served are referred to the program by the court system, with the remaining participants either entering the program voluntarily or coming from the program's community outreach;
• Although a majority of participants have completed high school or GED equivalency, most are undereducated and ill-prepared to enter the modern job market;
• The basic underlying reasons for their placement into the program (and their non-payment of child support obligations) are (a)a poor understanding or the court system and it's procedures, and (b) unemployment or underemployment, leading to the financial inability to pay and;
• Almost all participating fathers have a desire to have a contact with their children on a regular basis.

Perspective

• Based on recent estimates provided by the Leon County Sheriff's Office, on any given day, there are 70 to 100 men in the Leon County Jail for contempt of the court order (failure to pay child support) at a cost of approximately $47 per man per day. Extrapolated over the course of a year, this translates into $1.2 million to $1.7 million. This also doesn't take into consideration that while these fathers are incarcerated (a) they are not employed (and therefore not paying taxes), and (b) not paying child support.
• By the conflicted nature of their parents' relationships, children of non-custodial fathers are also inherently at risk, and research shows that many of these children will fall into substance abuse, delinquency, academic failure and antisocial behaviors at an early age.

The Adult-Adolescent Parenting Inventory (AAPI-2)

Five separate sub-scales form the basis of the AAPI-2 pretest and posttest instruments. A summary of the interpretation of high and low scores for each of the five sub scales is as follows:

1. Parental expectations: (high sten score) The individual has a realistic understanding of the developmental capabilities of children, as well as an acceptance of developmental limitations. (low sten score) This indicates a lack of understanding of children's developmental capabilities. Individuals who expect children to achieve at a higher level than they are capable often display a sense of self-inadequacy and perceived inadequacy as a care-giver.

2. Empathy towards children's needs: (high sten score) The individual is sensitive to the needs of children and places those needs in high regard. Children and their needs are not looked down upon, but rather valued. (low sten scores) These people often have difficulty helping children find ways to meet their needs. Non-empathetic care-givers find hitting a child much easier than listening to or talking to the child.

3. Corporal punishment: (high sten score) This indicates the use of alternative strategies, and a positive attitude toward non-violent ways of providing discipline for children. (low sten score) For the majority of these care-givers, hitting is the only means of punishment and discipline available to them. In families where hitting children is common practice, communication among family members is usually limited.

4. Parent-child role reversal: (high sten score) this often indicates an understanding and acceptance of the needs of self and children. The needs of the care-givers are important, but meeting the needs at the cost of the children's needs is not acceptable. (low sten score) Children are perceived as objects for adult gratification, and children are valued and are perceived as worthwhile only when they are pleasing their care-giver.

5. Oppressing children's power and independence: (high sten score) Parents place a strong value on children feeling empowered. Obedience is replaced with cooperation. (low sten score) Parents place a strong emphasis on obedience, having children do what they told to do. Generally parents who demand obedience as the basis of their discipline often use threats and physical punishment.

Test Results

59 fathers completed both the pretest and posttest AAPI-2. The average age of fathers completing the tests was 36, with a range of 20 to 64. 31 of the 59 fathers were black, 24 white, 3 hispanic, and 1 Pacific islander.

Based on a comparison of pretest/posttest results, participants showed statistically significant improvement on empathy towards children's needs and allowing for children's power and independence (Constructs #2 and #5).

As evidenced by posttest results, a minimal number of fathers were shown to be deficient (a weighted score of 2 or less) in any of the 5 constructs:

	# of Father's scoring 2 or less.	# of Father's scoring 5 or higher.
Parental expectations	8	34
Empathy towards children's needs	0	58
Corporal punishment	13	21
Parent-child role reversal	14	20
Oppressing children's power and independence	7	38

 

"What happens to a man is less significant then what happens within him."