Research confirms that the involvement of fathers in the lives of children matters for their children’s positive development (Carlson 2006; Cancian et al. 2010, King and Sobolewski 2006). In 2010, 27 percent of children lived apart from their biological fathers (Taylor et al. 2011), and that figure continues to rise. Low-income fathers, which include many fathers of color, are disproportionately affected (Nelson 2004) and often experience barriers to their ability to father effectively and provide for their children emotionally and economically. The federal government’s Responsible Fatherhood initiative has contributed to an increasing number of social programs designed to promote the support and involvement of fathers with their children. Research on these programs is still in its infancy, and little attention has been given to understanding the context of these men’s lives and the various factors that influence their ability to be involved, supportive fathers for their children. Building the knowledge base in this area may provide insights for the improvement of policies and programs to promote father involvement. This panel highlights findings from four studies that use qualitative research methods to develop an understanding of the multifaceted influences on the fathering of low-income men of color. The presenters vary in gender, racial/ethnic background, and affiliation, while the discussant is a fatherhood program practitioner. The first paper describes findings from 88 in-depth interviews with low-income fathers enrolled in one of four responsible fatherhood programs. It highlights fathers’ views on such topics as family and relationships, experience in the labor market, interactions with public agencies such as the child support system, and experiences in the fatherhood program. The paper will describe the strengths and barriers of low-income fathers and provides insights for fatherhood policies and programs. The second paper examines the perspectives and experiences of early transition to fatherhood (up to age 23); on-time (24-29) and late (30 and older) fatherhood among African American fathers who recently became fathers for the first time. Relying on focus group and individual in-depth interviews with the fathers, the paper focuses on the distinct as well as common perspectives on fatherhood revealed within and across developmental status groups. The third paper relies on narratives of low-income African American men to study their experiences of growing up without a father--absent fatherhood. The study examines the ways absent fatherhood occurs, the narratives men construct about their absent fathers, and how having an absent father affects their own parenting behavior. The presentation will discuss how absent fatherhood is an influential trait of men that shapes their lives and views on fatherhood. The fourth paper will focus on the role of culture in the design and implementation of fatherhood programs for low-income Hispanic men. Drawing on qualitative data from interviews with program staff, focus groups with participating fathers, and survey data on cultural values and beliefs and levels of acculturation, the paper will shed light on how programs design services for the specific characteristics and needs of the Hispanic fathers they serve, and how fathers respond to these services.