67th Annual Conference

Saturday, February 27

Session 215

The New Fathers Group: How Men Help Each Other Develop in their Roles as Parents

Presenter:

Bruce Linton, MFT, Ph.D., Founder/Director, Fathers' Forum Programs, Berkeley, California

This presentation will focus on the changing role of fatherhood and the importance of father-to-father contact. There are few resources for fathers to discuss the practical and emotional aspects of parenting with a peer group. The process of “role-making,” as reflected in the group process developed at the Fathers’ Forum programs, will be highlighted.

Learning Objectives:
The attendee will be able to:
Identify the developmental phases of fatherhood.
Demonstrate the value of father-to-father interaction.
Explain the long term benefit men/fathers experience from the Fathers' Forum group process.

Course References:
Linton, Bruce (2000), From Man to Dad: How Fatherhood Changes Men. In "Finding Time for Fatherhood: men's concerns as parents," (pp 17-29). Berkeley, CA. Berkeley Hills Books.

Lamb, M.E. (1975) Father: the Forgotten Contributor to Child Development. Human Development, 18, 245-256.

Pruett, K.D. (1984) Children of Father-Mother: infants of primary nurturing fathers . In J. Call, E. Galenson, and R. Tyson (EDS.) Frontiers of Infant Psychiatry, 2, (pp. 375-380). New York: Basic Books.