Thoughts Regarding Fathers and Service Delivery Systems

"We describe programs for children and families as Maternal and Child Health programs. Pediatrics is one of the Maternal Child Health programs... So there isn’t anything that really speaks to families, and there certainly is nothing institutionalized at any significant level that highlights the role of fathers."

From: Herman Gray, M.D., comment made during interview for making of NFN video, "Equal Partners, 1996."

"Fathers exist as part of the family system, and should not be viewed in isolation. They should not be seen as separate from their families or from their communities. Human services decisions made about fathers should consider the connections between these individuals and the social ecological system in which they live."

From: McAdoo, J. L. (1993) "Human Services: Professionals And African American Fathers," Family Resource Coalition Report, 12:1, Spring, 1993, 19.

"Children need and deserve the love and attention of both parents. Let’s work together so that every parent is fully respected and every child has the opportunity to establish close bonds with both men and women right from the start... There is nothing more important than our families and nothing more critical to the long-range future of our species than raising our children well. As there is also nothing more difficult, it makes sense to muster all of the forces available. In this spirit, let’s recognize and welcome fathers as full and equal partners in this task."

From: Randi Wolf , Family Resource Coalition

Compiled by James May, jma@seanet.com