Unwed Fathers Cite Barriers to Parental Involvement

By Meg Sommerfeld

Economic and social barriers often hinder young unwed fathers from becoming more involved in their children's lives, a study of fatherhood programs in six cities shows.

Two-thirds of program participants surveyed said they would like to see their children more often. Among the obstacles to more frequent contact were time constraints, distance, and problems in the young men's relationships with their children's mothers.

The study was published by Public/Private Ventures, a Philadelphia-based organization that conducts research and demonstration...