"It is uplifting to see men who themselves have had difficult childhoods struggling to be good fathers; even those living in poverty who must often cope with the welfare and criminal justice system bureaucracies. I recommend this program for everyone concerned about greater father involvement in American families."
- Dr. Alvin Poussaint, Harvard University, author of Raising Black Children
"This brilliant documentary reveals the vulnerability of working fathers with such dignity and grace that the viewer cannot help but be moved."
- Arlie Russell Hochschild, author of The Time Bind and The Second Shift
"A provocative documentary about fatherhood today."
- Parenting Magazine, June/July 1998 |
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Fatherhood USA
Available on 3 VHS with a Workbook
Hosted by former Senator Bill Bradley, this program goes beyond the popular stereotypes of fatherhood — Mr. Moms or Deadbeat Dads — to examine what it takes for fathers to build strong relationships with their children.
Broadcast Nationally on PBS
PROGRAM I: Dedicated, Not Deadbeat
looks at low-income fathers.
Hosted by Bill Bradley,
Narrated by Yaphet Kotto
Absent fathers, unmarried fathers, deadbeat dads -- negative depictions of fathers have become a media staple. But what about men struggling to stay involved with their kids despite a legacy of fatherlessness, poverty, or incarceration? What does it take to keep men connected to their families? This is a look beyond the stereotypes, at what happens when men in fragile families find an environment that supports their
PROGRAM II: Juggling Family and Work
looks at working fathers juggling childcare and careers.
Hosted by Bill Bradley,
Narrated by John Shea
There is no shortage of media attention to the challenges working mothers face trying to balance work and family. But what about working fathers? We rarely hear about men juggling work and family. This program looks at men from across the country as they confront the daily dilemma of being a dad while handling the pressures of a workplace that isn't always "father-friendly." It deals with one of the most important business issues of the future: creating a family-friendly workplace for both mothers and fathers.
PART III: Video Modules and Workbook
Designed to stimulate discussion among groups watching the program, the third VHS contains a series of brief, emotionally powerful vignettes. The themes of the video modules are:
- The Importance of Fathers
- Father-Mother Communication
- Juggling Work and Family
- Fathers and Social Support
Resources:
 Study Guide (PDF Document)
Families and Work Institute: FWI runs the Fatherhood Project, a national research and education project that is examining the future of fatherhood and developing ways to support men's involvement in child rearing. Its books, films, consultation, seminars, and training all present practical strategies to support fathers and mothers in their parenting roles. The project is the longest-running national initiative on fatherhood - founded in 1981 at the Bank Street College of Education in New York City by Dr. James A. Levine, and relocated in 1989 to the Families and Work Institute.
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