“If America’s Dads got as involved as America’s Moms in their children’s education, America’s children would be studying harder and getting a lot more A’s. Dads make a powerful difference in defining expectations and challenging children to do their best.”
- Former U.S. Secretary of Education, Richard W. Riley, 1997
Children whose fathers were highly involved in their schools were more likely to do well academically.
76% [of teenage girls] said that their fathers were very or somewhat influential in their decision to have sex.
Children whose fathers were more involved in their care tended to have fewer teacher reports of negative “acting out” behavior.
Students living in father-absent homes are twice as likely to repeat a grade in school.
Children with “hands-on” fathers are much less likely to use drugs than children with “hands-off” or absent fathers.
Teens with parents who are in the home are less likely to try alcohol, tobacco, or marijuana.
The likelihood that a young male will engage in criminal activity doubles if he is raised without a father.
Fatherless children are at a dramatically greater risk of drug and alcohol abuse.
Children in father-absent homes are five times more likely to be poor.
Fathers are more likely to stay involved with their children following divorce if they participate in custody mediation instead of custody litigation.
Compiled using information from the following source:
Horn, Wade F. Ph.D. and Tom Sylvester. 2002. “Father Facts Fourth Edition”. National Fatherhood Initiative.