For all the wonderful dads out there … Happy Father’s Day
Posted By RichC on June 16, 2024
Today has me thinking of the two dads in my life (DadC and DadH) as well as the father of my two granddaughters, Drew. I thank them for being great mentors … by using the stern hand of guidance when it was required … with an abundance of self-discipline … and always being the provider and an example of Godly love to those growing up with them a father.
Happy Fathers Day! Although I can’t help thinking about those without dads in their lives … and I pray for the children growing up without fathers. Those of us who have had good fathers, know the importance and also see a trend in America where there are fatherless homes. We are seeing a waywardness in America, with way too many lost and troubled youth. We know some of it can be attributed to not having fathers (and Biblical teaching) in their homes and in their lives.
The Statistics of Fatherless Children
The negative effects of a child without a father can be seen in countless studies and reports. The statistics show the importance of a father figure in the majority of children’s lives.
According to “What Can the Federal Government Do To Decrease Crime and Revitalize Communities?” from the U.S. Department of Justice, children from fatherless homes account for:
- Suicide: 63 percent of youth suicides
- Runaways: 90 percent of all homeless and runaway youths
- Behavioral Disorders: 85 percent of all children that exhibit behavioral disorders
- High School Dropouts: 71 percent of all high school dropouts
- Juvenile Detention Rates: 70 percent of juveniles in state-operated institutions
- Substance Abuse: 75 percent of adolescent patients in substance abuse centers
- Aggression: 75 percent of rapists motivated by displaced anger
To back up that data from 1998, which continues to be cited by researchers, a 2016 report of teenagers placed in juvenile residential facilities shows that 45 percent were living with only one parent at the time. That is a significant difference when compared to 30 percent of teens in two-parent households.
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