--- title: "Be Aware: 10 Economic and Financial Forces that Affect Co-Parenting" description: Learn from the experts about ten economic forces that affect co-parenting. image: https://www.fatherhood.org/hubfs/Images/Blog/NFI_Blog_co-parent-finances.jpg --- [Skip to main content](https://www.fatherhood.org/championing-fatherhood/be-aware-10-economic-and-financial-forces-that-affect-co-parenting#main) - [![NFI mark](https://www.fatherhood.org/hubfs/NFI-Assets/images/NFI%20mark.svg)FATHERHOOD.ORG](https://www.fatherhood.org/) - [STORE.FATHERHOOD.ORG](https://store.fatherhood.org/) [![NFI_logo_blue_left (1) 1](https://www.fatherhood.org/hs-fs/hubfs/NFI-Assets/images/NFI_logo_blue_left%20(1)%201.png?width=149&height=82&name=NFI_logo_blue_left%20(1)%201.png) ![NFI_logo_blue_left (1) 1](https://www.fatherhood.org/hs-fs/hubfs/NFI-Assets/images/NFI_logo_blue_left%20(1)%201.png?width=119&height=65&name=NFI_logo_blue_left%20(1)%201.png) ![NFI_logo_blue_left (1) 1](https://www.fatherhood.org/hs-fs/hubfs/NFI-Assets/images/NFI_logo_blue_left%20(1)%201.png?width=119&height=66&name=NFI_logo_blue_left%20(1)%201.png) ![NFI_logo_blue_left (1) 1](https://www.fatherhood.org/hs-fs/hubfs/NFI-Assets/images/NFI_logo_blue_left%20(1)%201.png?width=89&height=49&name=NFI_logo_blue_left%20(1)%201.png) ](https://www.fatherhood.org) - [How To Build Strong Families](https://www.fatherhood.org/build-strong-families) - [Why Father Inclusion Matters](https://www.fatherhood.org/why-father-inclusion-matters) - Show submenu for Get Involved Get Involved - [Fatherhood Programs](https://www.fatherhood.org/solutions/programs-and-resources) - [Train Your Staff](https://www.fatherhood.org/solutions/staff-training) - [State, County, and City Agency Services](https://www.fatherhood.org/solutions/collaborative-services) Open main navigation Close main navigation - Show submenu for Get Informed Get Informed - [How To Build Strong Families](https://www.fatherhood.org/build-strong-families) - [Why Father Inclusion Matters](https://www.fatherhood.org/why-father-inclusion-matters) - [Father Stats & Infographics](https://www.fatherhood.org/father-absence-statistic) - Show submenu for Get Involved Get Involved - [Fatherhood Programs](https://www.fatherhood.org/solutions/programs-and-resources) - [Train Your Staff](https://www.fatherhood.org/solutions/staff-training) - [State, County, and City Agency Services](https://www.fatherhood.org/solutions/collaborative-services) - Show submenu for Get Started Get Started - [Find Your Stage of Father Inclusion](https://www.fatherhood.org/father-inclusion) - [How Father Friendly Is Your Organization?](https://www.fatherhood.org/father-friendly) - [Get In Touch](https://www.fatherhood.org/get-started) [Store](https://store.fatherhood.org/?hsLang=en) [Get In Touch](https://www.fatherhood.org/get-started) [Store](https://store.fatherhood.org/?hsLang=en) Show submenu for Get Started Get Started - [Fatherhood Data & Statistics](https://www.fatherhood.org/father-absence-statistic) - [How Father Friendly is Your Organization?](https://www.fatherhood.org/father-friendly) - [Other Free Resources](https://www.fatherhood.org/nfi-free-resources) - [Talk With us to Get Started](https://www.fatherhood.org/get-started) National Fatherhood Initiative Blog / [Latest Articles](https://www.fatherhood.org/championing-fatherhood) [General Fatherhood Program Resources](https://www.fatherhood.org/championing-fatherhood/topic/general-fatherhood-program-resources) # Be Aware: 10 Economic and Financial Forces that Affect Co-Parenting 2 min read ![Christopher A. Brown](https://www.fatherhood.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Images/chris_circle_icon.png?width=100&height=100&name=chris_circle_icon.png) [** Christopher A. Brown ** ](https://www.fatherhood.org/championing-fatherhood/author/christopher-a-brown) Chris serves as the President of National Fatherhood Initiative® (NFI), where he is responsible for overseeing the development and implementation of NFI's strategic plan and business model, as well as its operations and fundraising efforts. ![NFI_Blog_co-parent-finances](https://www.fatherhood.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Images/Blog/NFI_Blog_co-parent-finances.jpg?width=453&name=NFI_Blog_co-parent-finances.jpg) Before you read on, grab a pen and write down as many economic and financial forces as you can that affect the ability to co-parent effectively. How many did you identify? If you’re like me, it would have been easier to identify the **non-**economic and financial forces that affect co-parenting. That’s because when it comes to working with dads and moms, we focus on the dynamics between parents rather than the broader forces that act upon parents—forces to which we and they are oblivious. That’s why I was glad to learn about an [excellent brief](https://files.constantcontact.com/6beb60a3701/4b5ec974-f64e-4b41-b7c0-499e66903fb3.pdf) from the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts entitled, “Ask the Experts: Ten Economic and Financial Forces Affecting Co-Parenting.” To my point above, the authors of the brief start it this way: > “As professionals interacting with families, we understand the obligation to address emotions, needs, and interests with parents who are struggling with co-parenting decisions. It is a relatively new idea to consider how money and financial factors affect conflict between co-parents. Frequently, both the professionals and the parents are unprepared to approach problem-solving from this prospective. Professionals may overlook financial factors in attempting to help parents confront their disagreements. There are some basic points related to money that practitioners should keep in mind when trying to help co-parents resolve conflict and disagreements.” Here are the 10 forces, taken verbatim from the brief. To learn more about each one, read [the brief](https://files.constantcontact.com/6beb60a3701/4b5ec974-f64e-4b41-b7c0-499e66903fb3.pdf). 1. Talking about money is really difficult. 2. Decisions made by parents concerning their children are influenced by a parent’s perception of risks and benefits for their children. 3. As the difference between the wealthiest and the least wealthy grows, many parents perceive that their children are in a competition where the stakes are high. 4. In response to this perceived competition, parents have shifted to more intensive parenting styles. 5. This growing perception of competition has occurred concurrently with increases in spending on education and enrichment activities. 6. Increased child-focused spending has corresponded with the acceptance of household debt. 7. Changes in the economy and significant economic events, like the Great Recession, have affected the generations of parents raising children differently. 8. Never-married parents may face new challenges as they choose not to combine their household economies. 9. Economic factors contribute to conflict between parents, as well as family stress, both of which negatively affect child adjustment and development. 10. Parents frequently fail to recognize that they are motivated by economic and financial factors and lack the skills and information to overcome the consequences. I encourage you to share the brief with your colleagues who work with parents. I also encourage you to raise your awareness of the co-parenting resources of [National Fatherhood Initiative®](https://fatherhood.org/) (NFI), such as our [Co-Parenting Bundle](https://store.fatherhood.org/bundle-co-parenting/), that can help you help dads and moms to co-parent effectively. **How much did you know about the economic and financial forces that affect co-parenting?** **How much do you know about the co-parenting resources of NFI?** [![he Benefits of Fatherhood Programs in Community-Based Organizations](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/135704/bbfbc796-8f3f-495b-a089-976b4f177f1f.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/135704/bbfbc796-8f3f-495b-a089-976b4f177f1f) Date Published: 12/17/2019 Last Updated: 10/15/2021 ## Learn How to Build a Fatherhood Program That Works Download this free guide for a proven 7-step roadmap—from making the case and securing funding for your program, to launching and measuring real results! [Get The Guide Now!](https://www.fatherhood.org/starting-a-fatherhood-program) ![7-steps-starting-a-fatherhood_program](https://www.fatherhood.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Images/7-steps-starting-a-fatherhood_program.png?width=700&height=700&name=7-steps-starting-a-fatherhood_program.png) [ Previous ](https://www.fatherhood.org/championing-fatherhood/why-you-really-do-need-a-program-specifically-for-fathers) [ Next ](https://www.fatherhood.org/championing-fatherhood/a-free-gift-dads-can-give-their-kids-this-season-and-beyond) ## Related Articles ### [Limited Blog Series: Supporting My Co-Parent Image created with GPT Image 2. Quick Confidence Builds are brief activities that practitioners can use when working with dads in face-to-face or virtual group-based or one-on-one ... Read More](https://www.fatherhood.org/championing-fatherhood/supporting-my-co-parent) ### [Five Leadership Practices That Build Father-Inclusive Organizations Image created with GPT Image 2. 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