Nuestros Padres: Exploring Latino Fatherhood in the Rural Midwest During the Pandemic and Post Pandemic

This dynamic research study focused on understanding Latino fatherhood in familial and educational contexts. The sample consisted of 40 Latino fathers who resided in rural northwest Iowa. Various qualitative methods were utilized including an overarching culturally responsive ethnography, testimonios, interviews, and other qualitative inquiry. This study utilized the FCS Body of Knowledge (BOK) and the Human ecosystem model (Bubolz et al., 1979) with cross-cutting themes including the human ecosystem as a framework to examine Latino fathers and to advance family and consumer sciences related to rural Latino communities. The study showed that Latino fathers' perspective on how they engaged in their family lives and children's education was changing compared to earlier generations. Another important finding was how Latino fathers and their communities' demonstrated strengths as they dealt with the pandemic, post pandemic and other social, cultural, political, historical and immigration challenges they faced. Recommendations for practice and research are provided.