- Why so much turnover in mayor's office?
- Hearing on the Ruby Hill towers
- Let freedom ring
- Promoting socialized medicine
- Immigration Laws or Lack Thereof
- Atheist Diversionary Tactics
- The "Melting Pot" is unique to America
- Many mighty hearts covering the world
- Roan Drilling Bad for Colorado, country
- Americans entitled to universal health care
Lost fatherhood
This Speakout has not been edited
By Rich Batten, Castle Rock
Have you ever lost something of value? Of course you have, so have I. And when I have I search everywhere until I find it. Unfortunately in my desperation much of my searching ends up being in all the wrong places. While it is not possible to make a direct correlation between father-absence and gang violence on the streets of Denver and other Colorado communities, gangs often provide a young man with male relationships that are more “honorable” than the one he has had with his father. Despite the violence they promote, gangs are sometimes a powerful substitute for the belonging, commitment and loyalty that we all need and desire. Kyle Pruett, Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the Yale Child Study Center, wrote in his book Fatherneed, “Men are the single greatest untapped resource in the lives of American children.” Others have observed that we live in the best of times and the worst of times for fatherhood: The best of times because fathers who are with their children spend more time with them than fathers of past generations; the worst of times because millions of children continue to miss the regular presence of Dad.
The results of a survey exploring the attitudes of American fathers towards the institution of fatherhood released by the National Fatherhood Initiative in December, “Pop’s Culture: A National Survey on Dads’ Attitudes on Fathering,” found that: §
I am proud to say that the state of Colorado is stepping up its efforts to increase child-focused father involvement. The Colorado Department of Human Services was recently awarded $10 million over the next five years by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to promote responsible fatherhood and improve relationships between fathers and their at risk children. In the first two years of funding just under $.2.4 million will be awarded to grass roots and other community-based organizations that provide programs and direct services for dads. Recipients of the funds must assure collaboration with a community domestic violence provider, a local workforce program and their county’s department of social/human services. These resources won’t directly address gang related issues, but they may very well keep thousands of children from losing something of vital importance to them – a loving, involved and responsible father.
Rich Batten works for Colorado State University Cooperative Extension. He is the father of four teenagers and serves on the Colorado Department of Human Services Fatherhood Steering Committee. Information on the Promoting Responsible Fatherhood Community Access Grant is available at www.cdhs.state.co.us/coworks/prf.htm