Child Well-Being in Philadelphia, Profiles of Children, Families & Fathers

Posted by Philadelphia Strong Families Coalition on October 06, 2014

Coalition issues report on city’s fathers

With 44 percent of children in Philadelphia growing up in homes without a father or adult male, the Philadelphia Strong Families Coalition has issues a report, Child Well-Being in Philadelphia, Profiles of Children, Families & Fathers, recommending that systemic barriers be eliminated to include men in their children’s lives.

“Fathers must no longer be considered as marginal players in the rearing of children — whether parents are married, separated or live apart,” Rufus Sylvester Lynch, chairperson of the coalition, said in a press conference in City Hall announcing the release.

The report notes that research has shown that without fathers, children are more at risk of poverty, behavioral issues, drug use, gang involvement, lower grades in school, living in poor housing and becoming teen parents.

Rev. Dr. W. Wilson Goode Sr., the former mayor, spoke at the press conference, saying that the city is “still in crisis.”

“We simply have to do better for our children,” he said. “We have to break down the wall of divide. The work of the coalition gives us a solid starting point to improve outcomes for children.”

For a summary of the report, go here.

http://home.comcast.net/%7Edrfair/fatherssummary.docx

For the full report, go here.

http://home.comcast.net/%7Edrfair/fathersreport.docx