In this solidly researched book, the authors demonstrate that the knowledge and techniques exist to decrease the incidence of welfare dependency, poor single-parent families and alienated, uneducated youth. In addition to providing a detailed account of the problem, they describe twenty-four programs that have proved successful in changing the lives of seriously disadvantaged children.

Gain valuable insights into the special needs of black adolescent parents through informative discussions on legal considerations, clinical perceptions, sexuality, attitudinal factors, services available, and much more.

First published in 1986. Forty five percent of black women have at least one child by the time they are turn twenty compared to 19 percent of white women. Eight-six percent of the births to black teens occurred to unmarried mothers compared to 30 percent among whites. Research shows that teenage childbearing has negative medical, social, and economic consequences and that women who first gave birth as teenagers are more likely to raise their families in poverty. In Choice and Circumstance the authors explore tree factors underlying the racial differences in the incidence of early childbearing; information about sex, pregnancy and contraception; need for family planning and abortion services; and motivation for postponing parenthood, including aspirations for schooling, employment plans and desire for children within marriage. They consider which teens postpone sex and pregnancy and why, and whether the kinds of motivation necessary to prevent early pregnancy vary by race in the United Sates, perhaps explaining the race differences in early childbearing.

One of the very few books to offer mental health professionals an in-depth, practical guide to dealing with teenage fathers, it also provides something that has rarely been attempted before, an appreciation of the problem from a multicultural perspective that takes into account both universal and culture-specific points of view. . . . This book is a significant addition to the sparse teenage-father literature. --Child & Family Behavior Therapy "Social service providers, scholars, and policymakers interested in the dilemmas facing teenage fathers should find this easy-to-read book a valuable resource. . . . The most impressive aspect of this book is that Mark S. Kiselica provides numerous and detailed recommendations . . . to address every imaginable issue service providers might face . . . when dealing with teenage fathers and their families. This book is therefore a valuable contribution to the burgeoning literature on teenage pregnancy." --William Marsiglio, Ph.D., University of Florida "Thanks to Mark S. Kiselica′s book, we now have a weapon that . . . helps practitioners win the battle of keeping teenage fathers in school, in counseling, and in a positive relationship with their children. . . . This book provides the best help possible for practitioners working with unwed adolescent fathers and helps future generations avoid the pitfalls and tragedies that create unmarried paternity." --from the Foreword by Leo E. Hendricks, Ph.D., Researcher on Adolescent Fathers "Mark S. Kiselica has produced an excellent volume that challenges and transcends harmful stereotypes about teenage fathers. . . . This well-conceived and well-presented book substantially advances our understanding and practice with a poorly served clientele." --Harold E. Cheatham, Ph.D., The Pennsylvania State University "I think this book is a real contribution to the field. It provides insight into . . . the issues faced by young fathers . . . as well as . . . practical advice for addressing these issues." --Sally Brown, Project Director, The Maine Young Fathers Project An up-to-date and in-depth guide for dealing with teenage fathers, this volume provides a framework for responding to not only the general but also the culturally specific needs of any given unwed teen father. Offering perceptive solutions, the author significantly contributes to the existing literature on how to help teenage men who face unplanned, out-of-wedlock fatherhood by providing clear and concise guidance within the web of legal, family, and personal issues surrounding teenage fatherhood. The book examines the role of the teenage father′s relationships--to his parents, his child, the mother of his child and her parents, and his peers--as they relate to his adjustment and changing worldview. While sensitive to cultural considerations, author Mark S. Kiselica illuminates ways in which to encourage teenage fathers to take control of their lives and act responsibly, regardless of cultural background. Giving due attention to the teenage father and the issues he faces, this volume provides valuable information and strategies for all helping professionals--including counselors, social workers, psychologists, psychiatrists, ministers, nurses, early childhood professionals, teachers, and administrators--who work with teenage parents. "Turning the coin from the more familiar side of committed, sensitive service generally available to unwed teenage mothers, author Mark S. Kiselica has produced an excellent volume that challenges and transcends harmful stereotypes about teenage fathers. Combining research findings with his clinical experience with this population, Kiselica provides a profile of the common needs of the teenage male. In turn, he provides dynamic perspectives on the common and culturally distinct experiences and needs of the teenage father. Ultimately, through case studies, Kiselica provides additional insights and strategies that will guide professional interventions that replace the commonplace, indifferent, or punitive responses to the teenage male facing the dilemma of addressing his roles and responsibilities in an unplanned, out-of-wedlock pregnancy. This well-conceived and well-presented book substantially advances our understanding and practice with a poorly served clientele." --Harold E. Cheatham, The Pennsylvania State University