"Today, our nation faces a crisis of absent fathers...and the children [of these families] are far more likely than their peers to grow up in poverty, drop out of school, and spend time in jail. We can't ignore this crisis."Governor Pete Wilson
1995 State of the State address
On June 13, Governor Pete Wilson convened a Focus on Fathers summit in Los Angeles. In the Governor's words, the summit "made real progress...raising public consciousness about the crisis of fatherlessness and the role that fathers can and must play in raising healthy children with strong values."
Fathers are not recognized often enough for their active role in the development of their children, in the stability of their families, and in the strengthening of their communities.
Too often, we have entire neighborhoods lacking involved fathers or decent role models for the children. Instead, some kids look to gangs and to the streets for the acceptance and nurturing they should find in their homes.
Children who grow up without fathers are more likely to be poor, drop out of school, end up in the juvenile justice system, and have higher rates of teen pregnancy and suicide. Tragically, because these children never see the roles fathers play in family life, they are likely to grow up and repeat the same cycle with their own children.
Being a father means more than just sending child support to your kids. It means giving them love and nurturing, teaching them self-respect and self-discipline, and helping them become mature, responsible adults. A father can have a profound impact on a child's future. There is nothing better for keeping a child in school and out of jail than keeping a father in the home.
The Focus on Fathers summit was organized to address the growing crisis of father absence, galvanize consensus, and build support for action among government, communities, and private sector for a solution to reverse the devastating trend of father absence.
F.R.E.E.[tm] was one of only two fathers' rights groups invited to speak at this summit for fathers. Anne Mitchell's testimony underscored the tragic effects of fatherlessness, and she offers an amazingly simple solution.
The Fathers' Rights and Equality Exchange
(415) 853-6877