Pastor: Country faces epidemic of fatherlessness
More than one-third of all children in the United States do not live with their biological father.
That’s 24.35 million kids under the age of 18, according to 2001 U.S. statistics.
This country is facing an epidemic of fatherlessness, said John Harris, associate pastor of Christ Temple Church and one of about 50 Lincoln area residents attending Friday’s Leadership Summit on Fatherhood at Embassy Suites.
The summit, presented by the Nebraska Children and Families Foundation and the Christian Heritage Fatherhood Initiative, brought together people from across the community to brainstorm ideas for helping fathers become more involved in their children’s lives.
National statistics, compiled by the National Fatherhood Initiative, offer proof that fathers — and father figures — do matter, regardless of race or income, said Rich Lewis of ICF International, a government/business consulting firm in Fairfax, Va.
Children growing up without responsible, involved and devoted fathers:
* Do worse in school.
* Are more likely to use drug, alcohol and tobacco — and at an earlier age.
* Are two times more likely to become sexually active at an earlier age and seven times more likely to get pregnant.
* Have more behavioral and mental health problems.
* Are 120 times more likely to be abused — physically, sexually or emotionally.
* Are more likely to be obese, suffer from asthma, get injured and be born at lower birthweights.
* Are more likely to live in poverty.
The human cost of father absence is huge, Lewis told the group.
But rather than focus on the social issues of father absence, summit participants put their energies toward finding ways to improve father presence.
They identified numerous societal issues that make it tougher for dads:
* Stereotypical beliefs about the caregiver role.
* Legal services for men, especially in custody/divorce cases.
* Incarcerated dads.
* Teen dads.
* Boys growing up without father role models and not knowing how to be a good father.
* A lack of comprehensive sex education that addresses the implications of sexual activity on males, as well as a lack of programs and mentors to show kids what positive relationships are.
Now that the issues have been identified, summit leaders hope to come up with a plan to address them, said LaRon Henderson of the Nebraska Fatherhood Initiative.
In closing, Pastor Dennis Banks, co-founder of Reach Out Christian Center, summed it up: “As a community, we have an obligation to father the fatherless.”
Reach Erin Andersen at 473-7217 or eandersen@journalstar.com.
That’s 24.35 million kids under the age of 18, according to 2001 U.S. statistics.
This country is facing an epidemic of fatherlessness, said John Harris, associate pastor of Christ Temple Church and one of about 50 Lincoln area residents attending Friday’s Leadership Summit on Fatherhood at Embassy Suites.
The summit, presented by the Nebraska Children and Families Foundation and the Christian Heritage Fatherhood Initiative, brought together people from across the community to brainstorm ideas for helping fathers become more involved in their children’s lives.
National statistics, compiled by the National Fatherhood Initiative, offer proof that fathers — and father figures — do matter, regardless of race or income, said Rich Lewis of ICF International, a government/business consulting firm in Fairfax, Va.
Children growing up without responsible, involved and devoted fathers:
* Do worse in school.
* Are more likely to use drug, alcohol and tobacco — and at an earlier age.
* Are two times more likely to become sexually active at an earlier age and seven times more likely to get pregnant.
* Have more behavioral and mental health problems.
* Are 120 times more likely to be abused — physically, sexually or emotionally.
* Are more likely to be obese, suffer from asthma, get injured and be born at lower birthweights.
* Are more likely to live in poverty.
The human cost of father absence is huge, Lewis told the group.
But rather than focus on the social issues of father absence, summit participants put their energies toward finding ways to improve father presence.
They identified numerous societal issues that make it tougher for dads:
* Stereotypical beliefs about the caregiver role.
* Legal services for men, especially in custody/divorce cases.
* Incarcerated dads.
* Teen dads.
* Boys growing up without father role models and not knowing how to be a good father.
* A lack of comprehensive sex education that addresses the implications of sexual activity on males, as well as a lack of programs and mentors to show kids what positive relationships are.
Now that the issues have been identified, summit leaders hope to come up with a plan to address them, said LaRon Henderson of the Nebraska Fatherhood Initiative.
In closing, Pastor Dennis Banks, co-founder of Reach Out Christian Center, summed it up: “As a community, we have an obligation to father the fatherless.”
Reach Erin Andersen at 473-7217 or eandersen@journalstar.com.
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