According to a report from New York City’s Mayor’s office called “The Mayor’s Fatherhood Initiative,” more than 24 million children are growing up in homes without a father. In New York City, about 33% of children under 18 years old are growing up in fatherless households (Sadly, the number climbs to 51% among Black and Latino children).
They note the effect of fatherlessness as being poor, being in jail, and doing badly in school. What is most shocking are their 3 recommendations – uncover and remove any barriers fathers face in interacting with City agencies, support fathers as they try to be good dads, and assist in the creation of memorable moments between fathers and their children.
There was no mention of the best way to help fathers be good dads (and create memorable moments) as marrying and remaining married to their children’s mothers.
Interacting with a city agency will never come close to taking the place of teaching a father how to be married.
