Parenting: A How To Be Responsible Father Curriculum

MDRC, formerly known as the Manpower Development Research Corporation publishes a Responsible Fatherhood Curriculum available on their website.

It available in PDF format and easily downloaded using Adobe Reader available for free at the Adobe website.

The curriculum is separated into twenty sessions including:

• Introduction to Responsible Fatherhood
• What Are My Values?
• Boys to Men: Experiencing Manhood
• Art of Communication
• Fathers as Providers
• Noncustodial Fathers: Rights and Responsibilities
• Developing Values in Children
• Coping as a Single Father
• Dealing with Children's Behaviors
• Relationships: Being a Friend, Partner, Parent, and Employee
• Understanding Male-Female Relationships
• Managing Conflict and Handling Agner
• Handling Anger and Conflict on the Job
• Surviving on the Job
• Issue of Race/Racism Part I
• Issue of Race/Racism Part II
• Takinig Care of Business
• Managing Your Time and Money
• Building a Support Network: Who's On Your Side?
• Alcohol and Drug Use and Abuse Part I
• Alcohol and Drug Use and Abuse Part II

The curriculum is designed in such a way that it presents information about the roles men fill as fathers and their relationships with others. It also guides men through interactions with other men who have similar situations while they build skills that better prepare them for their relationships with others both on and off the job. The emphasis of the program is peer support.

More about what it means to be a responsible father is available at the Annie E. Casey Foundation including information about key factors to consider when establishing a responsible fatherhood programming.

More about resources for helping fathers become more responsible will follow in future postings.