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Head Start and Nonresident Fathers' Involvement with Children
Author(s) -
Haralampoudis Alexandra,
Nepomnyaschy Lenna,
Donnelly Louis
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
journal of marriage and family
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.578
H-Index - 159
eISSN - 1741-3737
pISSN - 0022-2445
DOI - 10.1111/jomf.12756
Subject(s) - early head start , head start , coparenting , fragile families and child wellbeing study , psychology , socioeconomic status , developmental psychology , demography , sociology , population
Objective This study explores the associations of children's Head Start participation with the involvement and material contributions of their nonresident fathers. Background Head Start, which provides comprehensive child care services to over 1 million low‐income children annually, aims to enhance relationships and increase parental involvement among participating families. Prior studies indicate that Head Start increases engagement among mothers of participating children; however, little is known about its effects on father involvement, particularly that of nonresident fathers. Method Analyses are based on longitudinal data from the first five waves of the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study and focus on children with nonresident biological fathers at years 5 ( N = 1,464) and 9 ( N = 1,173). Associations are estimated between children's Head Start participation prior to kindergarten entry (at Age 5) and nonresident fathers' material contributions and social involvement at years 5 and 9, controlling for a rich set of individual, family, and contextual factors, including fathers' involvement prior to Head Start participation. Results Results indicated that Head Start participation was associated with increased levels of nonresident fathers' contact and engagement with children, and more frequent provision of in‐kind support, but not more formal or informal cash child support. These associations appeared to operate through improving the strength and quality of coparenting and parents' relationships. Conclusion Head Start may be an effective intervention for increasing nonresident fathers' involvement with children, which is another pathway through which Head Start can reduce socioeconomic inequalities and improve well‐being among children in low‐income families.