This document discusses the importance of fathers and fatherhood. It provides statistics showing that children from fatherless homes are more likely to repeat grades, drop out of high school, end up in juvenile detention, abuse drugs, become homeless or suicidal. Programs highlighted include Dads on Duty in Louisiana, which saw decreases in violence by using father volunteers, and the Illinois Council on Responsible Fatherhood, which advocates for policies supporting fathers. The author's own story demonstrates how discipline, ambition and love from his father helped him succeed.

1. Dads:
Why Fatherhood Matters
By Reggie Daniels
(Cycle 52)

2. Life Without Dads…
- The U.S. has the highest rate of children living
in single parent households of any nation in the
world at 23% VS the global average of 7%
- Children without fathers in the home are 40%
more likely to repeat a grade and roughly 70%
more likely to drop-out of H.S. than children
with both parents at home
- Roughly 70% of children in state run
correctional facilities and 85% of all youth in
prison come from fatherless homes
- 71% of children that abuse substances are
from fatherless homes
- 90% of all homeless & runaway children, 63%
of teen suicides and 85% of children with
behavioural disorders are raised in fatherless
homes

3. - Fatherlessness also has a link to abortion rates.
Data shows that upon legalization of abortion, the
fatherlessness rate in a country rises dramatically
- Roughly 70% of teenage pregnancies come from
young women raised in fatherless homes
- They also have significantly higher abortion rates
than women raised by both parents
- Even for children living with a
father, the average school-age
boy only spends about 30
minutes per week in 1-on-1 with
them. The same boy, on average,
will spend about 44 hours per
week playing video games, or
surfing the web

4. My Story…
- Born in Chicago, IL on June 2nd,
1994
- Oldest of 3 siblings
- Diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease at
the age of 13
- Graduated HS in 2013
- Became Reggie “Smokez” Daniels
- Graduated Year Up Chicago in 2018
- Accepted into 52nd Cycle of the I.C.
Stars in 2022…

5. How did I do it? I
used…
Discipline
Ambition
Dedication
D
A
D
+ LOVE

6. Dads On Duty
Shreveport, Louisiana
- Violence prevention program started by Craig Lee and
Michael La’Fitte in 2021 to interrupt violence between
students by using “Positive Presence Promotion”
- Drastically decreased the amount of fighting on
campus and completely eliminated gang activity
- All Dads on Duty are unpaid volunteers donating their
time to the community
- Shreveport Mayor Adrian Perkins is currently fighting
to get this program implemented in schools city-wide
- He even declared Oct. 26th “Dads on Duty Day” in the
city of Shreveport

7. Illinois Council On Responsible
Fatherhood
Springfield, Illinois
- State Board established in 2004 with a mission to increase the
amount of children that grow up with a responsible father in their
lives
- Works to raise public awareness on the impact of father absence in
children’s lives
- Assists state agencies and other service providers with resources
they need to promote responsible fatherhood
- Works to reforms perceptions within state agencies and other
organizations regarding the role of fathers as parents
- Advocates for programs, policies and legislation that will encourage
the positive involvement of fathers.

8. Gerst Family Young Fathers Program
Metropolitan Family Services/Chicago Illinois
- Helps fathers to become employed and
financially self-sufficient
- The program includes job readiness training
and placement, money management
training, parent education and co-parenting
counseling
- Participants are encouraged to actively
bond with their children through Father-
Child activities
- Offers referrals to other resources like
medical, legal and housing services

9. The End