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| FATHERHOOD | ||||
Since the Welfare Reform Legislation of 1996 (Personal RWORA), that included family formation and fatherhood as strategies to address welfare reform, many states have started different types of initiatives to include Healthy Marriage and Responsible Fatherhood programs. In 2003, Title II of CAPTA was reauthorized expanding and adding a stronger emphasis on certain areas of the CBCAP legislation. In expanding the legislation, it allowed for a larger network and linkage with other ACF priorities and initiatives. The 2004 CBCAP Program Instruction specified linkages to include: Healthy Marriage, Responsible Fatherhood, Outreach to faith- and community-based organizations, Positive Youth Development, and the Rural Initiative. Studies show that only about 50% of our children today will spend their entire childhood with an intact family and about 40% of children in father-absent homes have not seen their father at all during the past year. So what does this mean for our children? Children who grow up without a responsible father are significantly more likely to experience poverty, perform poorly in school, engage in criminal activity, and abuse drugs and alcohol. States are now working to find a solution to this problem by reaching out directly to fathers and offering programs to promote responsible fatherhood and strengthen parenting skills. Many States Responsible Fatherhood Initiatives offer a network of agencies and organizations working together to provide a large range of programs and services to support fathers. Some programs, specifically those that are voluntary and community-based, support the father’s relationships with their children and other family members. Other programs offered may vary from employment and job training to support that promotes the positive and emotional and economic participation of fathers in the lives of their children. Some specific programs funded address the following areas:
Fathers play an important role in the lives of their children. They contribute to laying a foundation of emotional, physical, and psychological development. The father’s presence and positive interaction in a child’s life helps to promote healthy families and provide for the best future. FRIENDS Resources on Fatherhood |
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