All children deserve a loving father who is actively engaged in their life. Sadly, many children do not have such fathers. Some of these children do not have involved fathers because the fathers simply don’t care. However, in many cases it is because their fathers lack sound parenting skills or because obstacles prevent meaningful interaction. Some states and communities are working to remedy these dilemmas in order to reconnect fathers with their children. Michigan should follow the lead of these other states and help men become responsible fathers for their children.

Public Policy Initiatives

Fatherhood Taskforce
Michigan should develop a Governor’s Task Force similar to Fatherhood Commissions established by nearly a dozen other states. The Task Force would be charged with identifying and studying critical problems for fathers, ways to eliminate barriers to responsible fatherhood, and ways to stimulate a climate that encourages responsible fatherhood.

Local Fatherhood Initiatives
Sustain funding for Fatherhood Initiatives under the administration of the Family Independence Agency.

Promote Incarcerated Fathers Program
The Department of Corrections should actively work to help parents, particularly fathers remain involved in their children’s lives whenever it is appropriate. Efforts should include programs designed to reconnect incarcerated fathers with their children, requiring parenting classes as a condition for parole for fathers and amnesty for child support arrears if parolees maintain support and involvement in their child’s life after release. By appropriately screening fathers, reconnecting them with their children and equipping them to become responsible fathers, Michigan could break the cycle of generational crime that so often accompanies children of absent fathers.

Research

Current Activity

To view other important legislative issues that Michigan Family Forum is working on, visit our Legislative Update page.