Using data from an ongoing study of current and former welfare recipients a
nd their preschool children, the study discussed in this article examined t
he influence of the presence of nonresident fathers on the well-being and d
evelopment of 188 low-income, employed and nonemployed single black mothers
and their three- and four-year-old children. There is evidence that involv
ement by nonresident fathers has positive effects on maternal depression sy
mptoms and child problem behaviors. The data show that maternal employment
status seems to affect nonresident fathers' relations with single black mot
hers and their young children. It also seems to make a difference in the mo
thers' psychological wellbeing. Policy implications are discussed.