A Day for High-Promise Dads
This past Saturday, 250-300 men (and a few women) gathered for the 7th Annual High-Promise Dads Bay Area Fatherhood Conference. Held in San Jose, the conference focused on the importance of male involvement in children's lives and how to be part of your child's life, especially for fathers who have been absent due to time in jail, addiction, estrangement from the mother, or a feeling that they were not needed.
Family & Children Services participates in dozens of health and information fair in Silicon Valley each year, and this always feels like one of the most important. We see many men who are current or recent participants in our parenting classes, domestic violence intervention groups, substance abuse treatment, or counseling services. We are proud to see them investing a full Saturday to increase their knowledge and tools to be the fathers they want to be for their families.
We also connect with other men who are seeking support and resources. I spoke with several fathers who were seeking counseling for their children, recognizing the impact of their family situation on the kids, or for themselves, finding they also need support.
The statistics about the impact of father absence are startling:
"Children who live absent their biological fathers are, on average, at least two to three times more likely to be poor, to use drugs, to experience educational, health, emotional and behavioral problems, to be victims of child abuse, and to engage in criminal behavior than their peers who live with their married, biological (or adoptive) parents." (from Fatherhood.org)
Yet, these negative outcomes from absence demonstrate the significant positive benefits that men can have if they engage with their children. The presence of the crowds of men at Saturday's Fatherhood Conference is an optimistic sign.
