$10 million helping hand for single dads

April M. Washington, Rocky Mountain News

Published October 1, 2007 at midnight

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Gov. Bill Ritter knows the time and commitment it takes to be a good dad to his four children.

The governor today unveiled a new public awareness campaign dubbed "Be There for Your Kids," which aims to assist at-risk and young fathers with community resources and services.

"There is no doubt about the importance of fathers in the lives of children," Ritter said. "At the end of the day, our future is only as strong as our children."

Colorado and Washington, D.C. each have been awarded a five-year, $10 million federal grant to improve parental relationships, Ritter said.

The Colorado Department of Human Services will spearhead the campaign to promote responsible fatherhood.

Research shows that the number of children nationwide who do not live with their fathers has more than doubled since 1960 from 10 million to 25 million.

About one-third of those kids will not see their fathers at all during the course of a year, Ritter said.

Research shows that children who grow up without responsible fathers are more likely to experience poverty, perform poorly in school and engage in criminal activity.

"Ultimately, the goal of this initiative is to strengthen Colorado's families by providing dads and families with the the tools needed to be there for our kid," said Ritter.

The grant money has been awarded to community- and faith-based organizations that provide services to fathers from all walks of life.

Many fathers are unaware that there are programs available to help them with the day-to-day parenting and family issues they may face, said Karen Bye, executive director of the Colorado Department of Human Services.

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