WASHINGTON, June 27,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Generation Hope, a nonprofit
providing direct support and national advocacy for student parents
in college, announced today the release of its latest report,
"EmpowerED Dads: Amplifying Voices, Advancing Higher Education
for Student Fathers." The comprehensive research report focuses
on advocating for policy reforms and institutional support systems
tailored to the unique needs of student fathers in higher
education.
The report is authored by Dr. Brittani
Williams, Director of Advocacy Policy & Research, and
Marlee Breakstone, Senior Policy Manager. It advocates for
solutions to enhance the academic success of student fathers,
particularly Black and Brown fathers, who face the additional
burden of combating stereotypes that portray them as absent or
uninvolved parents.
"Student fathers navigate a unique intersection of
responsibilities as they balance working toward their degree with
the joys and challenges of parenthood. Despite their presence, they
often lack visibility on campus and in research, leading to their
voices and needs being overlooked," said Dr. Williams. "Our report
aims to take a step in closing this gap by shedding light on their
experiences, addressing the systemic challenges they face and
championing their academic and personal successes."
Key findings from the report include:
- Necessary Policy Reforms: Calls for informed policy
changes to better support student fathers and address systemic
challenges they face in pursuit of their degrees.
- Tailored Support Systems: Identifies specific needs and
barriers, advocating for the development of targeted support
programs and resources tailored to student fathers'
requirements.
- Amplification of Voices: Delves into the narratives of
student fathers, highlighting their unique experiences often
overshadowed in discussions about higher education and
parenting.
In the landscape of higher education, the achievements and
perseverance of student fathers are often seldom acknowledged or
celebrated. Limited research has been done on this community and
their experiences navigating degree and career attainment. This
report shows that more data and documentation on student fathers is
needed and future research should continue to explore their
experiences and needs, including those from marginalized
communities and non-traditional family structures.
On July 24, Dr. Williams and
Breakstone will present the report's key findings, policy
recommendations and the future implications at a virtual event.
There will also be a Q&A session with both the researchers and
participants involved.
To inquire about the event or RSVP, please contact
press@generationhope.org.
To read "EmpowerED Dads: Amplifying Voices, Advancing Higher
Education for Student Fathers," in its entirety, please visit
here.
About Generation Hope: Founded in 2010, Generation Hope
is a nonprofit organization that engages education and policy
partners to drive systemic change and provides direct support to
teen parents in college (i.e. Scholars) as well as their children
through holistic, two-generation programming to ensure all student
parents have the opportunities to succeed, experience economic
mobility, and build wealth. We engage in local and national
advocacy work, amplifying the student-parent voice and centering
their experiences. We also leverage our data and best practices to
serve as a thought partner to colleges, providing them with the
tools, resources, and support that they need to implement programs,
adjust policies, and change structures and culture to improve
outcomes for student parents.
To date, our Scholar Program has served 435 teen parents in
college and celebrated more than 200 degrees. We currently serve
200 Scholars in the D.C. metro region and New Orleans area. We have also worked with
more than 30 colleges and universities to enhance their student
parent work through our technical assistance program, FamilyU,
impacting nearly 100,000 student parents across the country. Find
out more at generationhope.org.
Media Contact:
press@generationhope.org
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SOURCE Generation Hope