How Fathers Help their Children Develop

Natasha J. Cabrera is Professor of Human Development and Quantitative Methodology at the University of Maryland, USA. She received the National Council on Family Relations award for Best Research Article regarding men in families in 2009. She is the co-editor of the Handbook of Father Involvement: Multidisciplinary Perspectives (2013), co-author of Parenting Matters (2016) and co-PI of the National Center for Research on Hispanic Families and Children. Ronald B. Mincy is the Maurice V. Russell Professor of Social Policy and Social Work Practice at Columbia University, USA. He is the recipient of the Social Policy Researcher Award from the Society for Social Work and Research in 2021, the Frank R. Breul Memorial Prize for the Best Research Article in 2013 and the Journal of Policy Analysis and Management's Raymond Vernon Memorial Prize for the Best Research Article in 2009.

• Forward; Preface; 1. Contemporary fathers and their children in the US; 2. The role of fathers in child development: theoretical perspectives; 3. The money story: fathers' financial contributions and children's development; 4. The love story: fathers' emotional contributions and children's development; 5. Why does money matter for children's development: new analysis addressing the gaps; 6. How does money, love, and children's contribution matter for children's development? New analysis; 7. Policies and programs implicated by our findings; 8. Implications for policy and program change; Methadological Appendices: Appendix A. Chapter 5 Resident fathers; Appendix B. Chapter 5 Nonresident fathers; Appendix C. Chapter 6.

'This book builds upon decades of scholarship and practice, offering a compelling framework that positions a father's love as a critical developmental asset. Cabrera and Mincy illuminate how emotionally engaged, responsive fathering fosters children's social, emotional, cognitive, and academic growth—especially in communities facing socioeconomic adversity. Their work validates what many of us in the field have long advocated: that love, presence, and emotional connection are as vital as financial provision in shaping thriving children and families. I highly endorse and recommend this book to policymakers, researchers, and practitioners. It provides actionable insights for designing inclusive policies, advancing research on paternal engagement, and implementing practical strategies that strengthen father-child relationships. This is more than a book—it is a roadmap for empowering fathers and building resilient communities where every child has the opportunity to flourish.' Jeffery M. Johnson, President, National Partnership for Community Leadership