Why YOU Matter

Gentlemen, if nobody has told you, I want you to hear it from me...

YOU MATTER.

When I first started F/A Brotherhood about year and a half ago it was because I saw a gap. When I looked at resources for foster care and adoption, I did not see any resources for foster and adoptive dads with the exception of two things (which are really great resources): A book and a getaway.

Do you know how many resources are out there for foster care and adoption?? A TON! But none really geared towards foster and adoptive dads. Now, I don't say this because I want to start a riot or anything of that nature, but it's reality.

Let me share with you another reality. You, yes you, matter. And statistics tell us you matter. The statistics I'm about to share come from the National Fatherhood Initiative. These facts are not solely based off of foster care and adoption cases, but I think it gets the point across.

-According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 18.3 million children, 1 in 4, live without a biological, step, or adoptive father in the home.

-In a home where a father is not present, children are 4 times more likely to end up in poverty.

-In a home where a father is not present, children are 2 times more likely to drop out of school.

-In a home where a father is not present, children are more like to end up in prison than those who have a father present in the home.

-Children without a father present in the home are 7 times more likely to become pregnant as a teen.

-Children with active dads statistically do better in school than children without active dads.

-Science says that involved dads improve their children's overall emotional and social well-being.

Do you get my point?

Yes, mothers nurture and care for children. I think we can all agree on that. But the mental, physical, social, and emotional health of a child or children depend on you being there and being active in their lives. Yes, they do make their own decisions, but it's up to us as parents to point them in the right direction.

So gentlemen, while we don't have an arsenal of resources strictly for us, while the women get the credit for a majority of foster care and adoption praise (and trust me, I love my wife...not bashing her, or women at all), YOU MATTER! Make every second with your child(ren) count.

Thank you for what you do! You are loved!