Transcript Document 7256242

Father Involvement:
Security Dads Workshop
Father Facts 5
FIFTH EDITION
National Fatherhood Initiative
A Guide to
Strengthening Fatherhood In Your Community 2007
According to the research presented by
National Fatherhood Initiative 2007
FATHER FACTS 5
FIFTH EDITION
Trends in Father Absence
“If I had to summarize my deepest
conviction in this whole area of the
family, it would be that every child
has a birthright to grow up with her
mother and father who love the child
and love each other.
Trends in Father Absence
Far too many of our children are
denied that birthright.
And we see so much childhood
pain, and so many social problems
stemming from that basic denial of
what children need
DAVID BLAKENHORN QUOTED IN THE
JACKSON CLARION-LEDGER,
AUGUST 1, 2004
Father absence is not a single issue
“At this very moment
more than 24 million
children are going
through their day
without the love and
support of their
biological father.”
How Father Absence Affects Our Youth
Crime:
Often, “the story behind the story” of a violent
crime committed in America reveals a crime
of fatherlessness.”
How Father Absence Affects Our Youth
Crime:
A STUDY OF 13,986
WOMEN IN PRISON
SHOWED THAT 50 %
GREW UP WITHOUT
THEIR FATHER.
42 % GREW UP IN A
SINGLE-MOTHER
HOUSEHOLD
AND 16 % LIVED WITH
NEITHER PARENT
How Father Absence Affects Our Youth
Poverty:
Data shows that it’s more difficult to get
fathers to provide financial support when they
are not married to the mother and when they
lack an emotional connection to their children.
How Father Absence Affects Our Youth
Poverty
45 %OF UNMARRIED MOTHERS
IN LARGE U.S. CITIES ARE
POOR.
ANOTHER 28% ARE ‘NEAR
POOR.
WITH INCOMES 200%
BELOW THE POVERTY LINE.
How Father Absence Affects Our Youth
Physical Health:
Dads are often responsible for the physical play and
activity in a household and can help their children learn
the role of exercise in physical health.
Father involvement also has a positive impact on
maternal – child health and can even impact
childhood obesity.
How Father Absence Affects Our Youth
Physical Health:
IN A LONGITUDINAL STUDY OF MORE
THAN 10,000 FAMILIES,
RESEARCHERS FOUND THAT TODDLERS
LIVING IN STEPFAMILIES AND SINGLEPARENT FAMILIES WERE MORE LIKELY TO
SUFFER A BURN, HAVE A BAD FALL,
OR BE SCARRED FROM AND ACCIDENT
COMPARED TO KIDS LIVING WITH BOTH
OF THEIR BIOLOGICAL PARENTS.
How Father Absence Affects Our Youth
Sexual Activity:
When it comes to sexuality and relationships,
fathers play a crucial role in their children’s
development.
Involved dads play a key role in stopping the
spread of STDs and teen pregnancy.
How Father Absence Affects Our Youth
Sexual Activity:
TEENAGE GIRLS WITHOUT FATHERS
WERE TWICE AS LIKELY TO BE
INVOLVED IN EARLY SEXUAL
ACTIVITY
AND SEVEN TIMES MORE LIKELY
TO GET PREGNANT AS OTHER
ADOLESCENTS.
How Father Absence Affects Our Youth
Child Abuse:
Children who grow up without their fathers
are at greatest risk for child abuse.
In fact, the presence of a child’s father in the
home lowers the likelihood that a child will be
abused.
How Father Absence Affects Our Youth
Child Abuse:
COMPARED TO LIVING
WITH BOTH PARENTS,
LIVING IN A SINGLE –
PARENT HOME DOUBLES
THE RISK THAT A CHILD
WILL SUFFER PHYSICAL,
EMOTIONAL, OR
EDUCATIONAL NEGLECT
How Father Absence Affects Our Youth
Education:
Evidence of the impact of father absence can
show up on report cards… and in detention.
A seventeenth century proverb states: “One
father is more than a hundred school masters.”
How Father Absence Affects Our Youth
Education:
HALF OF ALL CHILDREN WITH
HIGHLY INVOLVED FATHERS IN
TWO- PARENT FAMILIES REPORTED
GETTING MOSTLY A’S THROUGH
12TH GRADE,
COMPARED WITH 35.2 % OF
CHILDREN IN NONRESIDENT
FATHER FAMILIES.
How Father Absence Affects Our Youth
Substance Abuse:
Parents, especially fathers, really are the anti-drug.
Children are more likely to use and abuse drugs
when they grow up without involved, responsible,
and committed fathers in their lives.
Drugs and alcohol often serve as surrogates for
children who experience a lack of love from and
emotional connection to their family and community.
How Father Absence Affects Our Youth
Substance Abuse:
Good dads step into that
void and raise children who
are less likely to use drugs.
IN A STUDY OF 6,100 HIGH
SCHOOLERS, LIVING IN A
NON- INTACT FAMILY
INCREASED THE LIKELIHOOD
OF BECOMING A REGULAR
SMOKER DURING
ADOLESCENCE.
How Father Absence Affects Our Youth
“What you can do”
“Scholarships”
“Community
Partnerships”
How Father Absence Affects Our Youth
“Tutoring”
“Mentoring”
“Get Involved, our children and our schools need your help!”
How Father Absence Affects Our Youth
Securitydads.com
[email protected]
317-371-4094