Here's some news from President Obama’s fatherhood initiative speech today.
See what The White House is saying about it below:
The Initiative is a national call to action to address fatherlessness in America and includes the following steps:
• The White House Office of Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships and the Office of Public Engagement will continue to host community forums on fatherhood and personal responsibility around the country, in concert with local groups. The next forum is scheduled for New Mexico on August 10.
• Organizations supporting the Initiative will reach out to communities and individuals around the country. Individuals who sign up for the Fatherhood and Mentoring Initiative will receive e-newsletters featuring articles, tips and resources from prominent leaders in the fatherhood and family fields and information about model programs.
• Organizations supporting the Initiative will work in specific ways to have a cultural impact on responsible fatherhood, from local forums with the National Parent Teachers Association to community trainings by the National Fatherhood Leaders Group (NFLG). Partners from the National PTA to the head of the Council of Christian Colleges and Universities have signed up to advance the President’s Fatherhood and Mentoring Initiative in communities around the country.
In addition, as the President has said, while no government program can remedy the problem of father absence in America, government must do its part to help fathers facing challenges. President Obama has proposed a new Fatherhood, Marriage and Families Innovation Fund that will scale up effective fatherhood and family-strengthening programs across the country. And recognizing that the best leg up for any family is a good job, the President has also provided funding through the Department of Labor for transitional jobs programs for noncustodial parents facing barriers to employment.
The President’s speech is here.
What should the takeaway for fathers be from the speech? The Brody File highlights the following excerpt:
"Our children don’t need us to be superheroes. They don’t need us to be perfect. They do need us to be present. They need us to show up and give it our best shot, no matter what else is going on in our lives. They need us to show them -- not just with words, but with deeds -- that they, those kids, are always our first priority."
Look, here’s the deal. One of the best things this President has going for him is that people generally like him. He’s more than “likeable enough” for most Americans. Events like this are perfect for him. He’s a natural fit. However, having the President at events like this once a year isn’t nearly enough. While the President has big problems to solve and his time is extremely valuable, maybe The White House needs to think about putting the President out in more of these situations. What about making it a national crusade? After all you can EASILY make the argument that good fathers lead to stable families which leads to a better overall society. Promoting responsible fatherhood is a BIG challenge. President Obama likes big challenges. It seems like it’s a perfect match.