Recently released statistics show the impact of fatherless homes.
- Statistics from the US Department of Health show that 63% of youth suicides are from fatherless homes – 5 times the national average.
- Further, their data shows that 90% of all homeless and runaway children are from fatherless homes – 32 times the average.
- Data from the Center for Disease Control shows that 85% of all children who show behavior disorders come from fatherless homes – 20 times the average.
- A report from the National Principals Association shows that 71% of all high school dropouts come from fatherless homes – 9 times the average.
According to the US Department of Census, 43% of US children now live without their father.
Do we see a connection here?
Mothers are amazing. In fact, mothers who can raise a healthy family and work at the same time are perhaps the most amazing people on the planet.
Yet, the data clearly demonstrates that when a father is not present in the home, more often, children face longer odds for emotional health.
Admittedly, in many such cases, it is not feasible nor possible for a father to be present. But what about a father figure?
Mentors, while they are not a replacement father, can help fill the gap.
According to Mentor, young adults who were considered “at-risk” but had a mentor are
- 55% more likely to enroll in college
- 130% more likely to hold leadership positions.
- 46% less likely than their peers to start using illegal drugs
Mentors make a big difference in the lives of youth who do not have a father in the home.
Here is one more number. 1
1 hour, each week, is all it takes to be a mentor who makes a difference in the life of a youth One Heart works with. When you become the 1 to give 1 hour, the math is exponential.
In this equation, 1+1= 55, 1+1=130, and 1+1=46. Those are good numbers. Especially when the product is individual lives.
Will you be that 1?