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Fathers Are Half of the Parenting Equation
BY ARLENE F. HARDER
"The President is determined to make committed, responsible fatherhood a national priority... [T]he presence of two committed, involved parents contributes directly to better school performance, reduced substance abuse, less crime and delinquency, fewer emotional and other behavioral problems, less risk of abuse or neglect, and lower risk of teen suicide. The research is clear: fathers factor significantly in the lives of their children. There is simply no substitute for the love, involvement, and commitment of a responsible father."
—A Blueprint For New Beginnings: A Responsible Budget for America’s Priorities, Released February 28, 2001
Today the climate in many homes is much different than it was when I was raising my children. The largest change has come not only from the fact that more women are working outside the home, but from the fact that more men are working inside the home in helping to take care of their children. Here are some articles of interest to anyone who wants to learn more about the role of fathers.
 Fatherhood Initiative of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
The Department of Health and Human Services has developed a special initiative to support and strengthen the roles of fathers in families. This initiative is guided by the following principles:
All fathers can be important contributors to the well-being of their children.
Parents are partners in raising their children, even when they do not live in the same household.
The roles fathers play in families are diverse and related to cultural and community norms.
Men should receive the education and support necessary to prepare them for the responsibility of parenthood.
Government can encourage and promote father involvement through its programs and through its own workforce policies.
It is true that, for a small number of children, increased involvement by a father or a mother may not be in the best interest of the child. The initiative recognizes this reality. However, the Department strongly supports family preservation and reunification efforts when they do not risk the safety of the child.
National Fatherhood Initiative
The National Fatherhood Initiative (NFI) was founded in 1994 to lead a society-wide movement to confront the problem of father absence. Their mission is to improve the well-being of children by increasing the proportion of children growing up with involved, responsible, and committed fathers: Fathers change the world one child at a time.
They have created a Father Friendly Check-Up™ for Business. This on-line survey will help you assess the degree to which your business’ operations include helping fathers find a successful balance between the demands of their jobs and the commitments to their families.
Fatherhood at About.com
This link provides a number of resources aimed at helping fathers be the kind of parent they want, and need, to be.
Father's Involvement in Schools
Although this article was written almost ten years ago, there some interesting statistics that support the importance of fathers in their child's life, whether they are in two-parent homes, father-only households, or other arrangements.
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