FATHERS DAY

Father's day
by Rev. Larry Snyder
president of Catholic Charities USA

ALEXANDRIA, Va. -- Millions of American children will be spending this  weekend celebrating their fathers and enjoying the many riches dads bring to  their lives -- security, stability and role models for their futures. But  too many children will go without those riches this Father's Day -- and  every day -- and are falling into poverty as a result.  

Studies show that children who grow up with both parents are more likely to  finish school, become self-sufficient, and have a healthier lifestyle than  those from single-parent homes. A healthy and supportive environment is one  of the most critical factors for a child. Greater involvement by fathers in  their children's lives promotes positive physical, social, emotional and  mental development  

As a nation, we must do more to help strengthen families by assisting men in  staying connected to their families. This requires government leaders to  embrace the importance of fathers in the lives of children and develop  policies that strengthen the economic well-being of men and help strengthen  their family ties.  

Catholic Charities USA has launched a campaign to cut U.S. poverty in half  by 2020. Building strong family connections -- especially through  strengthening programs and policies so that fathers are in the picture -- is  a vital part of the solution.  

Our agencies across the country serve more than 7.4 million people a year  and see firsthand the challenges faced by children who have only one parent  and the needs of fathers who want to be more involved with their children.  

Unfortunately, despite all of the information about the benefits of strong  families with both parents involved, some of our nation's welfare and child  support policies actually undermine the central role that both parents play  in the stability and well-being of the family, community, and our society.  

In fact, some of these programs portray fathers in a negative light,  demeaning the role of fatherhood and equating it to simply an economic  contribution.  

Congress must adopt comprehensive policies that support low-income fathers  such as more employment and training opportunities for low-income men,  stronger support for marriage and two-parent families, improved health and  mental health services, livable wages for working families, greater supports  for fathers who are disconnected from their children due to incarceration,  and reforms to the child support system to encourage the presence of fathers  in their children's lives.  

In addition, social service organizations nationwide should review their  programs and seek more ways that they can help low-income fathers become --  and stay -- engaged in the lives of their children.  

One outstanding example of a comprehensive program that strives to improve  the economic stability of fathers and promote the positive involvement of  fathers with their children is the Fatherhood Initiative operated by  Catholic Family Services in St. Louis.  

The program provides permanent housing to men to prevent homelessness and  job search and training to help them earn a living wage. Participants attend  classes for several hours each day as part of a six-week program on  parenting styles, money management, responsibility, and job skills  development. Men receive a $50 per week stipend during the program, and  those who complete it receive $200 to put toward their child support  obligations.  

Let's mark this Father's Day as the beginning of a new commitment in this  country to finding more ways to help low-income fathers, strengthen  families, and reduce many of the challenges that cause children to fall into  poverty.  

Helping fathers stay connected to their children will not only result in a  brighter future for their children but it will also secure the common good  and build a stronger nation.