Mistakes are inevitable, but people could make use of their wrong- doings into something beneficial not only to himself, but to the society he lives in, too. This blog, Team Young Fatherhood, aims to empower young adolescent fathers to make use of this life- changing event as a tool to raise the bar of what and who they really are. This blog would contain varied researches on young fatherhood and our group's proposed program design for these young fathers.
It is never too late to do something in good faith.
Monday, April 9, 2007
PERSONAL PROFILE OF GROUP MEMBERS
Francesca Alvarez
The Idealist
Idealists, as a temperament, are passionately concerned with personal growth and development. Idealists strive to discover who they are and how they can become their best possible self -- always this quest for self-knowledge and self-improvement drives their imagination. And they want to help others make the journey. Idealists are naturally drawn to working with people, and whether in education or counseling, in social services or personnel work, in journalism or the ministry, they are gifted at helping others find their way in life, often inspiring them to grow as individuals and to fulfill their potentials.
Her Mission Statement:
I will - try hard to make life a breeze for everyone and just take life as it is.
I will - be a person not of self- righteousness, but of integrity and humility.
I will - try to overcome negativity and fear.
Valerie Sakuma
The Guardian
Guardiansare the cornerstone of society, for they are the temperament given to servicing and preserving our most important social institutions. Guardians have natural talent in managing goods and services- from super vision to maintenance and supply--and the use all thier skills to keep things running smoothly in thier families, communities, schools, churhes, hospitals, and businesses.
Guardians can have a lot of fun with thier friends, but thuer are quite serious about thier duties and responsibilties. Guardians take pride in bieng dependable and trust worthy: if there's a job to be done, they can be counted on to put thier shoulder to the wheel.
Her Mission Statement:
I will - be responsible for all of my actions for I am an adult and independent.
I will - continue to love my family, God, friends and other people that need me.
I will - love God and praise him forever.
Shelley Viola
The Artisan
Artisans are the temperament with a natural ability to excel in any of the arts, not only the fine arts such as painting and sculpting, or the performing arts such as music, theater, and dance, but also the athletic, military, political, mechanical, and industrial arts, as well as the "art of the deal" in business.
Artisans are most at home in the real world of solid objects that can be made and manipulated, and of real-life events that can be experienced in the here and now. Artisans have exceptionally keen senses, and love working with their hands. They seem right at home with tools, instruments, and vehicles of all kinds, and their actions are usually aimed at getting them where they want to go, and as quickly as possible. Thus Artisans will strike off boldly down roads that others might consider risky or impossible, doing whatever it takes, rules or no rules, to accomplish their goals. This devil-may-care attitude also gives the Artisans a winning way with people, and they are often irresistibly charming with family, friends, and co-workers.
Her Mission Statement:
The Idealist
Idealists, as a temperament, are passionately concerned with personal growth and development. Idealists strive to discover who they are and how they can become their best possible self -- always this quest for self-knowledge and self-improvement drives their imagination. And they want to help others make the journey. Idealists are naturally drawn to working with people, and whether in education or counseling, in social services or personnel work, in journalism or the ministry, they are gifted at helping others find their way in life, often inspiring them to grow as individuals and to fulfill their potentials.
Her Mission Statement:
I will - try hard to make life a breeze for everyone and just take life as it is.
I will - be a person not of self- righteousness, but of integrity and humility.
I will - try to overcome negativity and fear.
Valerie Sakuma
The Guardian
Guardiansare the cornerstone of society, for they are the temperament given to servicing and preserving our most important social institutions. Guardians have natural talent in managing goods and services- from super vision to maintenance and supply--and the use all thier skills to keep things running smoothly in thier families, communities, schools, churhes, hospitals, and businesses.
Guardians can have a lot of fun with thier friends, but thuer are quite serious about thier duties and responsibilties. Guardians take pride in bieng dependable and trust worthy: if there's a job to be done, they can be counted on to put thier shoulder to the wheel.
Her Mission Statement:
I will - be responsible for all of my actions for I am an adult and independent.
I will - continue to love my family, God, friends and other people that need me.
I will - love God and praise him forever.
Shelley Viola
The Artisan
Artisans are the temperament with a natural ability to excel in any of the arts, not only the fine arts such as painting and sculpting, or the performing arts such as music, theater, and dance, but also the athletic, military, political, mechanical, and industrial arts, as well as the "art of the deal" in business.
Artisans are most at home in the real world of solid objects that can be made and manipulated, and of real-life events that can be experienced in the here and now. Artisans have exceptionally keen senses, and love working with their hands. They seem right at home with tools, instruments, and vehicles of all kinds, and their actions are usually aimed at getting them where they want to go, and as quickly as possible. Thus Artisans will strike off boldly down roads that others might consider risky or impossible, doing whatever it takes, rules or no rules, to accomplish their goals. This devil-may-care attitude also gives the Artisans a winning way with people, and they are often irresistibly charming with family, friends, and co-workers.
Her Mission Statement:
INTRODUCTION TO THE TOPIC
THE GROUP'S OPINION
Nowadays, adolescent fathers are very rampant. In our time, many boys are becoming fathers at a very young age because of many reasons such as lack of education, exposure to sex education, and even the kind of environment they’re exposed to. This subject matter is becoming one of the biggest issues in all of the teenage boys. No teenage boy wants to become a father at their very young age. But why is that this matter still occurs? And why is this topic really important to embark upon?
Usually, teenage moms are always the one who gets all the care and guidance when it comes to this situation. The main reason for this is because the women should know how to take care of their children no matter what. Women think that once they become a mom, their lives will never be the same again. But what about the adolescent father? One of the reasons why adolescent fathers are becoming rampant is because since they think that they don’t have much of the responsibilities in taking care of their child/children, they don’t take fatherhood seriously. They think that they still have the choice to either go on with their usual lifestyle even if they already have baby/babies. They don’t have proper education when it comes to their responsibilities, obligations, and specially their role as the father.
It is best to focus in this issue mainly because the rate of adolescent father is increasing over time. This also has a big effect on their children in the future even family values is slowly being forgotten by young people. Adolescent fathers needs guidance in order to orient them to the new life they’re into. This trend is unavoidable. We cannot stop this phenomenon. The only thing we can do is to give attention and guidance to all the teenage fathers.
COMPILATION OF RESEARCHES
Data from the National Center for Health Statistics suggests that about 17.4 per 1,000 males ages 15-19 years became teen fathers in 2002. Longitudinal studies suggest this number might be even higher. While the incidence of teen fatherhood is lower than that of teen motherhood, these young men are a potential resource for their child, as well as individuals with their own unmet needs. This introductory article to the topic of teen fatherhood, explores the challenges adolescent fathers experience.
Teen fathers face a developmental dilemma. They need to transition into parenthood while simultaneously going through adolescence and becoming an adult. Their fatherhood is impacted by both their ethnicity and cultural norms. Teenage fatherhood grows out of both personal and social contexts which influence young men's decisions regarding being sexually active, whether to use contraception, and pregnancy outcomes. Despite common stereotypes, there is increasing evidence that teen fathers want to be (and are) involved with their children in some ways. Teen parent programs which help young fathers with the legal aspects of fatherhood, help them become self-sufficient, teach effective parenting skills, and promote healthy lifestyles have shown to be effective.
Source:http://www.tpronline.org/articles.cfm?articleID=263
Concern about adolescent fathers has been fueled by a number of factors. First is the finding that many adolescent fathers become progressively less involved with their children over the course of time (Marsiglio, Amato, Day, & Lamb, 2000). Second, and perhaps most important, is the growing body of research showing the significant impact of fathers' involvement with their children on children's outcomes (Amato, 1998; Fagan, 2000). Fathers who stay involved with their children and who provide good quality parenting, even when those men do not reside with their children, are more likely to have children who succeed academically, have fewer behavior problems, and relate well with peers in social situations. Third is the consistent finding that women raising children without the presence of a residential father are more likely to be poor and stay poor over time (Bartfeld & Meyer, 2001).
Little is actually known about the involvement of adolescent unwed fathers (Achatz & MacAllum, 1994; Lerman & Ooms, 1993). Unwed fathers of children born to teenaged mothers are least likely to pay child support (Bumpass & McLanahan, 1989). Young couples frequently express positive intentions about father involvement with the adolescent mother and her child. Data from the Fragile Families and Child Well-being Study reveal that 82 percent of new unwed parents are still in romantic relationships, 80 percent predict they will marry, and more than 90 percent of mothers want the father's continued involvement with the child (McLanahan, Garfinkel, Reichman, & Teitler, 2001). Despite these intentions, it appears that many adolescent fathers and teen mothers do not stay together, do not marry, and do not maintain relationships whereby the father is actively involved with his children. It is also noteworthy that researchers and policymakers have not uniformly suggested that unwed fathers should be more involved with the adolescent mother and the child. McLanahan et al. (2001) suggest that many unwed fathers are violent toward the mother or abuse drugs or alcohol, and programs should be cautious about encouraging these young fathers to be more involved with the mother and child.
The present study focuses on factors that are associated with adolescent unmarried, nonresident fathers' prenatal involvement with the teenaged mother. Few studies have examined the involvement of these young men prior to the birth of their children. Yet it is well known that fathers' positive experiences during this period of time are significant for developing bonds with their children following birth. For example, Rivara, Sweeney, and Henderson (1986) found that frequency of young father prenatal contacts was related to frequency of contacts with children nine and 18 months postpartum. Research has also shown that when adolescent fathers are included in decision-making during pregnancy and birth, they are more likely to report increased involvement with their children following birth (Elster & Lamb, 1982; Redmond, 1985). The transition to parenthood is difficult for parents under the best of circumstances. It is that much more difficult when parents are unwed, poorly educated, young, and unemployed or underemployed.
Source:http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0PAV/is_3_1/ai_111268934
Nowadays, adolescent fathers are very rampant. In our time, many boys are becoming fathers at a very young age because of many reasons such as lack of education, exposure to sex education, and even the kind of environment they’re exposed to. This subject matter is becoming one of the biggest issues in all of the teenage boys. No teenage boy wants to become a father at their very young age. But why is that this matter still occurs? And why is this topic really important to embark upon?
Usually, teenage moms are always the one who gets all the care and guidance when it comes to this situation. The main reason for this is because the women should know how to take care of their children no matter what. Women think that once they become a mom, their lives will never be the same again. But what about the adolescent father? One of the reasons why adolescent fathers are becoming rampant is because since they think that they don’t have much of the responsibilities in taking care of their child/children, they don’t take fatherhood seriously. They think that they still have the choice to either go on with their usual lifestyle even if they already have baby/babies. They don’t have proper education when it comes to their responsibilities, obligations, and specially their role as the father.
It is best to focus in this issue mainly because the rate of adolescent father is increasing over time. This also has a big effect on their children in the future even family values is slowly being forgotten by young people. Adolescent fathers needs guidance in order to orient them to the new life they’re into. This trend is unavoidable. We cannot stop this phenomenon. The only thing we can do is to give attention and guidance to all the teenage fathers.
COMPILATION OF RESEARCHES
Data from the National Center for Health Statistics suggests that about 17.4 per 1,000 males ages 15-19 years became teen fathers in 2002. Longitudinal studies suggest this number might be even higher. While the incidence of teen fatherhood is lower than that of teen motherhood, these young men are a potential resource for their child, as well as individuals with their own unmet needs. This introductory article to the topic of teen fatherhood, explores the challenges adolescent fathers experience.
Teen fathers face a developmental dilemma. They need to transition into parenthood while simultaneously going through adolescence and becoming an adult. Their fatherhood is impacted by both their ethnicity and cultural norms. Teenage fatherhood grows out of both personal and social contexts which influence young men's decisions regarding being sexually active, whether to use contraception, and pregnancy outcomes. Despite common stereotypes, there is increasing evidence that teen fathers want to be (and are) involved with their children in some ways. Teen parent programs which help young fathers with the legal aspects of fatherhood, help them become self-sufficient, teach effective parenting skills, and promote healthy lifestyles have shown to be effective.
Source:http://www.tpronline.org/articles.cfm?articleID=263
Concern about adolescent fathers has been fueled by a number of factors. First is the finding that many adolescent fathers become progressively less involved with their children over the course of time (Marsiglio, Amato, Day, & Lamb, 2000). Second, and perhaps most important, is the growing body of research showing the significant impact of fathers' involvement with their children on children's outcomes (Amato, 1998; Fagan, 2000). Fathers who stay involved with their children and who provide good quality parenting, even when those men do not reside with their children, are more likely to have children who succeed academically, have fewer behavior problems, and relate well with peers in social situations. Third is the consistent finding that women raising children without the presence of a residential father are more likely to be poor and stay poor over time (Bartfeld & Meyer, 2001).
Little is actually known about the involvement of adolescent unwed fathers (Achatz & MacAllum, 1994; Lerman & Ooms, 1993). Unwed fathers of children born to teenaged mothers are least likely to pay child support (Bumpass & McLanahan, 1989). Young couples frequently express positive intentions about father involvement with the adolescent mother and her child. Data from the Fragile Families and Child Well-being Study reveal that 82 percent of new unwed parents are still in romantic relationships, 80 percent predict they will marry, and more than 90 percent of mothers want the father's continued involvement with the child (McLanahan, Garfinkel, Reichman, & Teitler, 2001). Despite these intentions, it appears that many adolescent fathers and teen mothers do not stay together, do not marry, and do not maintain relationships whereby the father is actively involved with his children. It is also noteworthy that researchers and policymakers have not uniformly suggested that unwed fathers should be more involved with the adolescent mother and the child. McLanahan et al. (2001) suggest that many unwed fathers are violent toward the mother or abuse drugs or alcohol, and programs should be cautious about encouraging these young fathers to be more involved with the mother and child.
The present study focuses on factors that are associated with adolescent unmarried, nonresident fathers' prenatal involvement with the teenaged mother. Few studies have examined the involvement of these young men prior to the birth of their children. Yet it is well known that fathers' positive experiences during this period of time are significant for developing bonds with their children following birth. For example, Rivara, Sweeney, and Henderson (1986) found that frequency of young father prenatal contacts was related to frequency of contacts with children nine and 18 months postpartum. Research has also shown that when adolescent fathers are included in decision-making during pregnancy and birth, they are more likely to report increased involvement with their children following birth (Elster & Lamb, 1982; Redmond, 1985). The transition to parenthood is difficult for parents under the best of circumstances. It is that much more difficult when parents are unwed, poorly educated, young, and unemployed or underemployed.
Source:http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0PAV/is_3_1/ai_111268934
PROGRAM PROPER
This proposed program for young adoloscent fathers would cater to a whollistic integration of new learnings about this life-changing experience for them of being expectant new fathers.
ACTIVITY THEME:
1 week summer camp
QUALIFIED PARTICIPANTS:
15- 21 year old adolescent fathers of middle to lower societal class.
ACTIVITIES:
1.) 5- day Sportsfest (daily from 7 am- 12nn)
Participants would be divided into 6 teams, with 10 members each (in random order). They would participate in outdoor and indoor sports such as wall climbing, basketball and volleyball as well as various Filipino games. This would strengthen camaraderie among young adolescent fathers so that they'll be able to learn how to deal and open up with new people.
2.) 2- day Electronic and Craft Making Crash Course ( 2- 5 pm)
This activity would encourage the young adolescent fathers to venture into entrepreneurship by acquiring new skills that would help them do so. Having to support a child, these young fathers must be able to produce income sans a college diploma, and this crash course may help them.
3.) 3- day Refresher on Basic Academic Subjects ( 2-5 pm)
Subjects such as science, mathematics and english would be incorporated during the summer camp so that the young fathers could be refreshened of what possibly they might have missed in school due to circumstances of life events. Students would be grouped according to their respective age groups to ensure the right academic level. The summer camp also aims to re assess the value of going to school, and understanding its importance.
4.) 5- day Individual Night Counseling
The Night Counseling would be facilitated by volunteer pyschologists. This would take place after dinner, at 8pm until 10 pm. All participants are required to meet their respective psychologists assigned to them. When done, participants are required to do a written activity about their thoughts on the day's what-abouts.
5.) 2- day Reflection and Values Renewal
The last two days in summer camp would be dedicated for the young adolescent fathers to have a venue to renew their values through series of talks from experienced individuals and group activities. The young fathers would be given ample time for reflection. A mass would be provided during the afternoon (before the Night Camp Bonding), but it would not be mandatory.
6.) Last Night Camp Bonding
The last night would be dedicated for the young fathers and camp volunteers to enjoy with dinner, sports fest awarding ceremony and closing ceremonies. A large bonfire would be provided.
ACTIVITY THEME:
1 week summer camp
QUALIFIED PARTICIPANTS:
15- 21 year old adolescent fathers of middle to lower societal class.
ACTIVITIES:
1.) 5- day Sportsfest (daily from 7 am- 12nn)
Participants would be divided into 6 teams, with 10 members each (in random order). They would participate in outdoor and indoor sports such as wall climbing, basketball and volleyball as well as various Filipino games. This would strengthen camaraderie among young adolescent fathers so that they'll be able to learn how to deal and open up with new people.
2.) 2- day Electronic and Craft Making Crash Course ( 2- 5 pm)
This activity would encourage the young adolescent fathers to venture into entrepreneurship by acquiring new skills that would help them do so. Having to support a child, these young fathers must be able to produce income sans a college diploma, and this crash course may help them.
3.) 3- day Refresher on Basic Academic Subjects ( 2-5 pm)
Subjects such as science, mathematics and english would be incorporated during the summer camp so that the young fathers could be refreshened of what possibly they might have missed in school due to circumstances of life events. Students would be grouped according to their respective age groups to ensure the right academic level. The summer camp also aims to re assess the value of going to school, and understanding its importance.
4.) 5- day Individual Night Counseling
The Night Counseling would be facilitated by volunteer pyschologists. This would take place after dinner, at 8pm until 10 pm. All participants are required to meet their respective psychologists assigned to them. When done, participants are required to do a written activity about their thoughts on the day's what-abouts.
5.) 2- day Reflection and Values Renewal
The last two days in summer camp would be dedicated for the young adolescent fathers to have a venue to renew their values through series of talks from experienced individuals and group activities. The young fathers would be given ample time for reflection. A mass would be provided during the afternoon (before the Night Camp Bonding), but it would not be mandatory.
6.) Last Night Camp Bonding
The last night would be dedicated for the young fathers and camp volunteers to enjoy with dinner, sports fest awarding ceremony and closing ceremonies. A large bonfire would be provided.
INTEGRATION
The program that our group designed for these young adolescent fathers considered the different Status of Identity that these young men have. The following would be the integration of the Status of Identity into our program:
1. Identity Diffusion
Young adults tend to absorb almost everything, some of which might not be helpful actually, but still, being absorbed anyway. Our program would like to take advantage of that. The series of talks that we'll be having during the summer camp would be of great use for the speakers to impart the values that they know to these young adolescent fathers.
2. Identity Foreclosure
Identity Foreclosure depicts that a young adolescent assumes adult roles prematurely. Being a young adolescent father is included in this stage as they experience this life changing moment of having to be an expectant father. We are bending this negative identity into somewhat positive through a crash course on electronics and craft making to evoke this young adolescent fathers to venture into entrepreneurship. Since they are being hinog sa pilit already, we will make use of this for them to mature slowly and think of possible ways to earn income.
3. Psychosocial Moratorium
This summer camp would be a venue for this young adolescent fathers to stop and think, and just savor the moment of being alive and being able to dream and do more. Reflection and Values Renewal in summer camp would help these young men to stay still, away from the busy and complex life, and just to think about fresh perspectives. Psychosocial Moratorium could be very helpful.
4. Identity Achievement
The summer camp, through various activities, talks and interactions would help these young adolescent fathers to weigh what really matters most for them, and from there, take responsibility for their actions. The summer camp's main goal is not to be preachy with this young men who created what the society might call a "mistake"-- but to imbue to them that sense of responsibility and achievement of things that would be beneficial.
1. Identity Diffusion
Young adults tend to absorb almost everything, some of which might not be helpful actually, but still, being absorbed anyway. Our program would like to take advantage of that. The series of talks that we'll be having during the summer camp would be of great use for the speakers to impart the values that they know to these young adolescent fathers.
2. Identity Foreclosure
Identity Foreclosure depicts that a young adolescent assumes adult roles prematurely. Being a young adolescent father is included in this stage as they experience this life changing moment of having to be an expectant father. We are bending this negative identity into somewhat positive through a crash course on electronics and craft making to evoke this young adolescent fathers to venture into entrepreneurship. Since they are being hinog sa pilit already, we will make use of this for them to mature slowly and think of possible ways to earn income.
3. Psychosocial Moratorium
This summer camp would be a venue for this young adolescent fathers to stop and think, and just savor the moment of being alive and being able to dream and do more. Reflection and Values Renewal in summer camp would help these young men to stay still, away from the busy and complex life, and just to think about fresh perspectives. Psychosocial Moratorium could be very helpful.
4. Identity Achievement
The summer camp, through various activities, talks and interactions would help these young adolescent fathers to weigh what really matters most for them, and from there, take responsibility for their actions. The summer camp's main goal is not to be preachy with this young men who created what the society might call a "mistake"-- but to imbue to them that sense of responsibility and achievement of things that would be beneficial.
CONCLUSION
"In doing this project about young adult fathers, I’ve realized that life is indeed full of surprises. Who would imagine that amidst innocence and everything good, a person can be a parent (or a father, for this matter) at a young age? The theories learned in class made me understand a certain aspect that science could explain on why this kind of phenomenon happens today. It helped me to be more understanding of life’s inevitable complexities". - Francesca Alvarez
"Doing this project on young fatherhood got me into the undiscovered world of the nakabuntis. That as much as the expectant young mother is suffering, there is also the young expectant father on the other end that we have to support, that we have to guide. Life's a major circus, but we can make it a good one, by being more open minded towards new occurences". - Valerie Sakuma
"I have learned a lot when we were working on this project. Honestly, I only have little knowledge about adolescent father and I don’t even care about them since I cannot relate to them and I haven’t met nor have a friend which is an adolescent father. But this project opened my eyes to the situations of young fathers. I realized that they need help especially guidance to all the things their facing now that they’re already a dad. It is really hard for them to raise a child since they are not at the right age and they don’t even know how to raise their own child. Orienting them or giving them enough attention is the best way to guide this young fathers on how would they deal with their situation. I think our recommendation or the solutions that we came up are one way of helping this young fathers". - Shelley Viola
"Doing this project on young fatherhood got me into the undiscovered world of the nakabuntis. That as much as the expectant young mother is suffering, there is also the young expectant father on the other end that we have to support, that we have to guide. Life's a major circus, but we can make it a good one, by being more open minded towards new occurences". - Valerie Sakuma
"I have learned a lot when we were working on this project. Honestly, I only have little knowledge about adolescent father and I don’t even care about them since I cannot relate to them and I haven’t met nor have a friend which is an adolescent father. But this project opened my eyes to the situations of young fathers. I realized that they need help especially guidance to all the things their facing now that they’re already a dad. It is really hard for them to raise a child since they are not at the right age and they don’t even know how to raise their own child. Orienting them or giving them enough attention is the best way to guide this young fathers on how would they deal with their situation. I think our recommendation or the solutions that we came up are one way of helping this young fathers". - Shelley Viola
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