Events

Voices in the Family, NPR
Monday, March 30th from 12 noon to 1pm

Praise for When Boys Become Parents

"When Boys Become Parents is a significant contribution that humanizes statistical data on the topic of teenage fatherhood that has been largely ignored. This book will appeal to students in human services courses and professionals serving youth populations."-James Garbarino, Director, Loyola University Chicago's Center for the Human Rights of Children

"This book shines a much-needed light on the struggles of adolescent fathers and what our society must do to help them. If every professional currently working in an adolescent parents program were to read this book, one can easily imagine a new generation of young fathers who are fully engaged in their children's lives."-Michael Hayes, Director of Family Strengthening Initiatives, Texas Attorney General's Office

"Kiselica highlights prevalent characteristics among teenage fathers and the cultural current that shape common perceptions of them. In so doing, he dispels many myths while simultaneously acknowledging the personal struggles and contextual constraints these young males often encounter. Kiselica skillfully portrays the double bind that grips many young fathers--they are underprivileged yet underserved. The book’s most significant contribution, therefore arguably lies in its comprehensive review of programs and auxiliary resources that may be marshaled to assist young fathers and their families. Highly recommended."-CHOICE, October 2009

After school specials about teenage pregnancy abound. Whether in television or in society, the focus tends toward young girls coping with all of the emotional and physical burdens of pregnancy but rarely is the perspective of the teenage fathers portrayed.

In this informative book, Mark S. Kiselica draws on his many years of counseling teenage fathers to offer a compassionate look at the difficult life circumstances and the complicated hardships these young men experience. He dispels many of the myths surrounding teenage fatherhood and shows that, contrary to popular belief, these young men are often emotionally and physically involved in relationships with their partner and their child. But without support and guidance from adults, these relationships often deteriorate in the first year of the child’s life. Kiselica offers advice for how professionals and policy makers can assist these young men and improve services for them.

When Boys Become Parents provides a moving portrait of teenage fathers to any reader who wants to understand and help these young men to become more competent and loving parents during their journey to adulthood.

Mark S. Kiselica is a professor of counselor education at The College of New Jersey. He has written over 100 publications, most of which are focused on the subjects of counseling boys and men, especially teenage fathers.