Fifty Days of Fatherhood - Day One

Thank you for joining with me on this journey. For the next fifty days we will be looking at, thinking about, and praying for fathers across our country. My prayer is that you will discover the awesome joy of being an involved, responsible, and committed father.

Today, begin by thinking about the importance of fathers.

General Fatherhood Data:

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, over 25 million children live apart from their biological fathers (http://www.census.gov/prod/2008pubs/p70-114.pdf). That is 1 out of every 3 (34.5%) children in America. Nearly 2 in 3 (65%) African American children live in father-absent homes. Nearly 4 in 10 (36%) Hispanic children, and nearly 3 in 10 (27%) white children live in father-absent homes.

Fathers impacrt every area of our society. Over the next few days we will be looking at each of these areas. But consider this today...

Father Factor in Poverty

• Children in father-absent homes are five times more likely to be poor. In 2002, 7.8 percent of children in married-couple families were living in poverty, compared to 38.4 percent of children in female-householder families.Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Children’s Living Arrangements and Characteristics: March 2002, P200-547, Table C8. Washington D.C.: GPO, 2003.


• During the year before their babies were born, 43% of unmarried mothers received welfare or food stamps, 21% received some type of housing subsidy, and 9% received another type of government transfer (unemployment insurance etc.). For women who have another child, the proportion who receive welfare or food stamps rises to 54%.Source: McLanahan, Sara. The Fragile Families and Child Well-being Study: Baseline National Report. Princeton, NJ: Center for Research on Child Well-being, 2003: 13.


• A child with a nonresident father is 54 percent more likely to be poorer than his or her father.Source: Sorenson, Elaine and Chava Zibman. “Getting to Know Poor Fathers Who Do Not Pay Child Support.” Social Service Review 75 (September 2001): 420-434.


• When compared by family structure, 45.9% of poor single-parent families reported material hardship compared to 38.6% of poor two parent families. For unpoor families who did not experience material hardship, 23.3% were single-parent families compared to 41.2% of two-parent families.Source: Beverly, Sondra G., “Material hardship in the United States: Evidence from the Survey of Income and Program Participation.” Social Work Research 25 (September 2001): 143-151.3

The message is clear - fathers clearly impact the sustainability of the family and children who don't have involved, responsible, and committed fathers face extra hardships.