The Central Texas Fatherhood Initiative (CTFI)
was organized as a grassroots effort to promote responsible
fatherhood and to increase the number of children raised by committed,
caring, and competent fathers. Through the development of
strategic partnerships with representatives from every sector of
society, CTFI seeks to organize a community-wide social movement
in order to motivate and train fathers to take a more active role
in their children’s lives.
Tonight, one out of every three children will
go to bed in a home in which his or her father does not live, and
for the first time in our nation’s history, the average child
will spend at least a significant portion of his or her childhood
living apart from his or her father. The absence of fathers – whether
physical or emotional – has profound consequences for children. Children
who grow up absent their fathers are more likely to:
fail at school or to drop out,
experience behavioral or emotional problems,
engage in early sexual activity,
live in poverty,
develop drug or alcohol problems, and
commit suicide.
On the other hand, children with involved, loving
fathers are significantly more likely to:
do well in school,
have healthy self-esteem,
exhibit empathy and pro-social behavior, and
avoid high-risk behaviors such as drug use, truancy,
and criminal activity.
The impact of a father’s presence and support
cannot be underestimated. Every father has something positive
to give his child, even if from a distance. More and more
fathers everyday are experiencing the satisfaction and reward of
taking a more active role in the lives of their children. Contact
CTFI today to learn more about what you can do to enhance your
relationship with your child and make a positive difference in
his or her life.
