15.1 Preamble

Governors recognize that strong families and communities are essential elements for providing a secure future for children. Within that context, there is growing evidence that suggests that in families in which fathers do not contribute their time and support, children are far more likely to endure myriad risk factors.

Children with absent fathers are more likely to drop out of school, become teenage parents, develop drug or alcohol problems, or become involved in violent criminal behavior. When both mother and father are positively and actively engaged in a child’s life—providing not only financial support but love, guidance, and discipline—that child has a better chance of success.

Governors also recognize that under certain circumstances, fathers are not involved in the lives of their children. In such instances, efforts can be undertaken to provide supports, as needed, to assist single mothers in meeting parental obligations and providing fatherhood role models for children.

15.2 Options for Government Involvement

The nation’s governors recognize that government alone cannot reverse the growing trend of father absence. What is needed is a fundamental change in society to provide greater emphasis on the role of fathers in child rearing. However, the federal government can and should take action to help reduce the number of out-of-wedlock pregnancies and encourage active participation by fathers of all ages in raising their children. Such action could include supporting states in:

• providing additional education and information about the importance of fathers participating in raising their children;
• developing strategies, such as parent education programs and state-directed media campaigns, to educate youth and young adults about the responsibilities and lifelong obligations of fatherhood;
• expanding efforts to prevent unintended and out-of-wedlock teen pregnancies;
• providing children with appropriate adult male role models, such as mentors, in the absence of a caring father;
• ensuring that young men are given opportunities to feel successful and valued, which will lead to the development of self-confidence and preparation for fatherhood;
• linking responsible fatherhood programs to domestic violence prevention programs;
• encouraging the involvement of the community, including the religious community, civic community, business community, and mentors in addressing the importance of father involvement;
• developing strategies that include both parents in activities focused on their children, such as training service providers and educators to include both parents in their service delivery;
• working with private employers, community workforce programs, and the education community to provide education and job training opportunities to unemployed, underemployed, and low-skilled fathers; and
• improving paternity establishment, establishment of legal parenting time, and child support enforcement efforts.

15.3 Federal Funding for Fatherhood Initiatives

The nation’s governors have played a leadership role at both the national and state levels in developing and implementing comprehensive strategies to strengthen the American family and specifically through initiatives to strengthen the role of fathers in their children’s lives. While many Governors use Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and other federal program funds to support state-specific fatherhood initiatives, additional federal investment in fatherhood would broaden the population of fathers that can be served.

Any new federal funding stream designated for fatherhood initiatives should:

• support programs in states, territories, and commonwealths at the discretion of each Governor, that encourage appropriate involvement of both parents in the life of a child, with priority given to programs that specifically address the issue of fatherhood;
• be coordinated with existing fatherhood programs, as well as with other federal funds that can be used for fatherhood initiatives, such as TANF; and
• not be funded at the expense of another vital human service program.

Time limited (effective Annual Meeting 2009–Annual Meeting 2011).
Adopted Annual Meeting 1995; revised Annual Meeting 1997, Annual Meeting 1999, and Winter Meeting 2000; reaffirmed Annual Meeting 2001; revised Annual Meeting 2003; reaffirmed Annual Meeting 2005; revised Annual Meeting 2007 and Annual Meeting 2009 (formerly Policy HR-28).