Fatherhood

Fathers are critical in a child’s life. Research consistently documents the connection between engaged fathers, and improved outcomes for children in areas such as safety, health, education, and social/emotional well-being. When communities recognize the importance of fathers in their children’s lives, families and communities are more apt to succeed. In 2005, PCAK helped launch a collaborative venture between community partners, faith-based organizations and various state departments to enhance the lives of Kentucky’s children and promote family well-being through positive father involvement. For more than a decade, PCAK has been instrumental in furthering this initiative, now identified as the Commonwealth Center for Fathers and Families, by providing direct services to fathers, advocating for father inclusion throughout all family focused programming and informing professionals and practitioners of best practice and relevant fatherhood information. Our goal is to establish and improve the father/child relationship so fathers can be the launching point for their children’s success in life.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Grant Opportunity:

Prevent Child Abuse Kentucky (PCAK), in partnership with American Electric Power (AEP) Foundation and Kentucky Power, will award eight agencies or organizations funds (up to $500 each) to conduct an event, or host an activity focused on promoting positive father engagement. These events should provide resources/activities directly to dads and their children. Applicants may choose to propose in person or virtual events. Organizations serving communities within the AEP service area will be considered for funding. See if you are in one of the eight eligible counties by downloading the application here.

 

WHAT THE FATHERS WE SERVE ARE SAYING…

“I am grateful for the fatherhood classes. The judge is allowing us to have unsupervised visits with our granddaughter, and we will begin the transition from the 30 days transition to our home next month.”

“I wanted to let you know these classes are awesome. I cannot wait to share and model what I’ve learned with my kids.”

“When I come to class, I feel supported. I feel respected and welcomed, and realize my kids need me.They need me to know this stuff.”

“I wish I would have known the information and tools sooner, I would have never spanked my boys.”

“When I leave class, I go home every night, seriously, and write down what I’ve learned in my journal. I share it with my child’s mother on the phone everyday. I don’t want what happened to me as a kid to happen to my daughter, and it’s my responsibility.”

WHAT THE DATA SAYS:

While father engagement promotes child safety, many other measures of well-being are impacted by the widespread lack of a father figure in the home.

Research indicates the absence of a biological father contributes to increased risk of child maltreatment.

24 million children live without their biological father.

Father absence in urban areas is close to 80%.

Being raised by a single mother raises the risk of teen pregnancy.

12% of children in married-couple families were living in poverty, compared to 44% of children in mother-only families.

Children in father-absent households have significantly higher odds of incarceration.

Source: National Fatherhood Institute