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Why Fathering Matters?

Fathering
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Commissioner Roberts in Clay County has provided continuing education on why fathering matters. The statistics are noteworthy and significant for parents who want to act in the best interests of their children. Of course, there are exceptional situations where a parent is harmful to the well-being of a child due to abuse, neglect, mental health concerns, drug or alcohol abuse or dependence, among other reasons, but in most families, a child having an involved father is an overwhelming factor in the child going on to have a productive, successful adult life.

Children without an involved father are:

  • 4 times more likely to be poor;
  • At Higher odds for being incarcerated or going to prison;
  • At higher risk of facing teen pregnancy;
  • More risk of suffering abuse and/or neglect;
  • 3 times more likely to face teen violence;
  • More likely to abuse drugs and alcohol;
  • More at risk for emotional problems;
  • Twice as likely to commit suicide;
  • Likely to have lower grades and struggle in school;
  • At a 71% increased risk of dropping out of school without finishing high school.

With all of these statistics, it seems crucial that even if you have personal, negative feelings toward your child’s father, the well-being of your child requires that you put your personal feelings aside and make certain that you facilitate a co-parenting environment that is safe for your child to thrive in building his or her relationship with their father, and thereby, with both parents- who are both of significant importance to the well-being of your child.

When children have involved fathers, they are likely to perform better in school and graduate from high school, display healthy behavior, less likely to be abused or neglected, less likely to be sexually active in their teen years and more capable of resisting drug and alcohol use.

If you need to have positive guidance about developing a parenting plan in the best interests of your child, or you are a father who needs to secure and ensure that your parental rights are safeguarded, call our office today for a consultation so we can develop a strategy to address your case and situation and make sure you have the opportunity to have a meaningful role in your child’s life. Call us at (816) 208-8130.

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