Is There a Father Absence Crisis?
With the release of the National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse's
new series of ads, bloggers and news sites have been buzzing about the need for these ads and the fact that there is a father absence crisis in America. "Do we really need to 'sell' fatherhood?" is the question of the hour.
Several individuals have cast doubt on a statistic from our
Pop's Culture and
Mama Says surveys, which state that 9 out of 10 fathers and mothers believe there is a father absence crisis in America today.
But that is the wrong statistic on which to focus.
The real issue is not what we see in our circles of influence or what we believe about whether or not there is a problem. The real issue is that 1 out of 3 children - 24 million - are growing up without their biological father in the home.
When millions of fathers aren't involved in their children's lives, that's a crisis. Especially when you consider that children from father-absent homes are more likely to face depression or commit suicide, drop out of school, experience a teen pregnancy, and experiment with risky behaviors.
There is a place for these ads. Even for the many dads who are involved and present, these ads are a reminder that your kids need you and you have an irreplaceable role in their lives.
For more information about the facts of father absence, visit
www.fatherhood.org/fatherfactor or
www.census.gov.