Poverty is one of the factors that define inner city families. Efforts designed to pull these families out of poverty have largely been ineffective. If these families are to be rescued from the extreme levels of poverty and the high crime rates that they experience, more interventions are needed. Programs intended to help fathers in the inner city tackle alcoholism and substance abuse are among those that are most promising. The experiences of the fathers in the text Doing the best I can by Edin and Nelson indicate that these programs can indeed work.
Definition of Issue
Poor parenting is the main issue that Edin and Nelson’s text examines. The text narrates how two fathers, Ritchie and Ray have strived to offer their children the best experience possible. One of the challenges that each of these fathers grappled with is alcoholism. Ray shares that he has been sober for nine years and has dedicated his life to taking care of his son. Ritchie has also abandoned alcoholism and now goes extreme lengths to ensure that all the needs of his son are met (Edin & Nelson, 2013). While they still encounter difficulties, these fathers can be considered successful parents. Their success can be attributed to their decisions to quit drinking. As noted above, programs that focus on helping inner city parents resist the urge to use dangerous substances and alcohols are desperately needed. The need for these programs lies in the fact that through the programs, the inner city fathers will be able to take better care of their children and make better life decisions. Ray and Ritchie serve as evidence that when they abandon alcoholism, inner city fathers can become good parents, regardless of the poverty and other hardships that they face.
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Policy Recommendation
The discussion above has proposed the establishment of alcoholism and substance use prevention programs. To accompany these programs, it is further recommended that the local authorities should adopt a policy that prioritizes substance use prevention. In order for the programs to be implemented successfully, some cultural changes are necessary. One of the cultural issues that the text reveals is that the fathers appear driven to abandon substance use by the pressure and responsibility of taking care of their children. For example, Ray admits that the wise decisions that he is making are the result of the inspiration that he receives from his son (Edin & Nelson, 2013). While the focus on children is important, it is not sufficient to provide sustainable motivation and inspiration. The fathers need to adopt a new culture which places emphasis on their own wellbeing. This new culture promises to offer the fathers more compelling reason to stay clear of alcohol and substances. For the culture change to occur, a training program is needed. Conducted by local social workers, this program should sensitize the fathers on the dangers of substance abuse and the importance of sobriety. The implementation of the training program will rely heavily on social workers who will collaborate with other stakeholders to educate the fathers on the positive outcomes of shunning alcoholism and substance abuse.
Possible Challenges
Low levels of financial and moral support, lack of cooperation from the fathers and inadequate competence among the staff charged with implementing the substance use prevention programs are among the challenges which threaten to frustrate the implementation process. If stakeholders fail to offer adequate funding and such stakeholders as social workers lack the skills needed to offer training, it can be expected that the program will fail. While these challenges could derail progress, the recommended plan remains solid. Its main strength lies in its practical approach; the program will offer skills and knowledge which the fathers will leverage to remain sober and responsible. One of the main weaknesses is that the plan relies heavily on the support of third parties. If this support is not offered, it is likely to fail. In addition to this weakness, there are larger social structural issues that could complicate the implementation process. The demands that the fathers face are among these issues. For example, in the text, it is noted that despite not being the legal custodian of his child, Ray stays with his son (Edin & Nelson, 2013). He has to meet his material needs. The instability of his job suggests that he has financial struggles. It can be expected that these financial struggles may drive him to alcoholism, thereby impeding the plan. To overcome the pressure that the fathers endure, poverty-reduction programs should accompany the training intervention. For example, the local authorities could provide more stable employment to the fathers.
References
Edin, K., & Nelson, T. J. (2013). Doing the best I can: fatherhood in the inner city. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press.
