Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.

President Barack Obama White House Fatherhood Agenda

Executive Summary Bullet Points

President Barack Obama Responsible Fatherhood Call To Action:

President Obama, Father’s Day, June 2008, campaigning for President, gave his well-popularized speech on the importance of Responsible Fatherhood at the Apostolic Church of God in Chicago. He stated “I recognize and honor how critical every Father is in the lives of their children…we also need Father’s to realize that responsibility does not end at conception…we need them to realize that what makes you a man is not the ability to have a child, but the courage to raise one…nowhere is father absence more critical than the African American Community” 

President Obama, “Fatherhood is very personal for me”

• Grew up without his Biological Father
• Father abandoned Barack/family when Barack was 2 years old
• Barack last seen his father when he was 8 years old
• Emotional pain into stand on the impact of Father absence
• Overcame Father Absence to Committed Father/Husband, Family Man

Crisis and Concern on Father Absence in America/African American Community:

• 1 out of 3 children in America live apart from their biological father.
• 2 in 3 African American children live in father absent homes.
• Over 24 million children affected by father absence. That is more than the number of American adults living with cancer, AIDS, Alzheimer combined.
• 69.7% of Black Children born out of wedlock to unmarried parents.
• 1, 372, 700 children with fathers in prison.
• Over 50% of Black Boys live in households without fathers.
• 71% of all HS Dropouts come from Fatherless Homes.
• 50% Black Men who don’t got to college become non-custodial fathers.
• Girls who grow up without a Father increases the likelihood of teenage pregnancy, unhealthy relationships and suffer from low self-esteem
• Children in father absent homes 5 times more likely to be poor; 2/3 times more likely to use drugs, become teenage parents; engage in criminal behavior, gang activity; be victims of child abuse and experience educational, health, emotional and behavioral problems.
• Correlation between father absence, stability of families and community.

 Racial Implications on Father Absence:

• Slavery- Intentional Destruction of Black family, specifically fathers and men
• Institutional Racism in areas of employment, education, criminal Justice
• Cultural Values- Married households to single mother headed households 
• Disparity of Resources, Services, difficulties on families surviving 

Political Implications on Father Absence in African American Community:

• Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan 1965 Report “Crisis of Negro Family” which detailed the systemic destruction of the Negro Family.
• President Bill Clinton introduced welfare policies in 1996, putting more emphasis on father’s child support obligations on families receiving welfare.
• President George Bush made provisions for150 million annual funding towards Healthy Marriage, Responsible Fatherhood programs.
• Congressman Danny Davis Julia Carson Responsible Fatherhood and Healthy Families Act of 2009, improve legislation for fathers and families.
• President Obama White House Fatherhood, Marriage and Family Innovation Fund, 500 Million towards funding for programs, services.   

Economic Implications on Father Absence:

• Federal Government released “100 Billion Dollar Man” Report, detailing how it costs taxpayers 100 Billion Dollars annually for Father Absence. Costs include government programs aimed at supporting father-absent homes. Programs include Child Support Enforcement, Welfare Assistance, Courts, Judges, Law Enforcement, Penal Institutions and Fatherhood programs.   

President Obama White House Fatherhood Agenda:

• President Obama, White House takes stand on importance of Fatherhood.
• 2009 White House Townhall meeting on Fatherhood and Healthy Families
• President’s Advisory Council on Fatherhood and Healthy Families Taskforce
• National Fatherhood Forums, White House meetings, conference calls.
• Policy Recommendations on improving Responsible Fatherhood
• Public Awareness Campaigns to change image, role of Father’s.
• White House Fatherhood, Marriage and Family Innovation Fund.
• White House, Community Partnerships on strengthening fathers, families.

President Obama White House Fatherhood and Healthy Families Taskforce Report.

Taskforce Mission: Make recommendations to President Obama and White House on efforts to advance, improve and support Fatherhood in America, which will enhance and strengthen the foundations of our families, children and communities. 

President Obama White House

Fatherhood and Healthy Families Taskforce Report

10 Recommendations were made to the President

1. Convene quarterly White House Roundtables with various community sectors to form partnerships with one another and the President addressing the critical concerns and solutions facing Father’s and Families. Sector Field include foundations, corporations, leaders, elected officials, fraternities, sororities, sports, entertainment, community organizations, youth programs, Faith-Based, employment, education, military, penal, medical and health.
2. Host annual White House Father’s Day activities, using the office of the Presidency, to raise awareness on the importance of responsible fatherhood, celebrate exemplary father’s who are engaged in the lives of their children and families, provide report on roundtable partnerships, advances in father involvement, progress with government, fatherhood leaders and programs.
3. President to continue to personally affirm the important role of father’s and model the life of a committed husband and father. President Obama shares the wounds of father absence as well as the joy of being a committed father and husband. This open example by the President serves as a model for fathers. It is also recommended that all committed fathers, community partners join the President in demonstrating, promoting positive fatherhood.
4. Challenge Government agencies to cross departmental lines, foster communication, create working relationships to asses and address policies that affect father’s involvement in the lives of their children. Most fathers want to be involved with their children, but are challenged by many barriers, such as child support, incarceration, unemployment, access and visitation. 
5. Increase participation of Federal agencies to provide more funding for fatherhood and healthy families programs. The work and field of responsible fatherhood is growing. The need for expanded fatherhood and family services is increasingly critical. Funding areas include education, incarceration, re-entry, criminal justice, employment and child support.
6. White House increases investment in fatherhood evidence-based evaluations as a way to bolster ability for programs to prove outcomes/effectiveness. It is clear that father’s need to be connected to their children and family, but questions remain as to effective approaches to fostering those connections.
7. Develop tools and products that are culturally and linguistically relevant. Fatherhood programming and services needs to be developed and delivered in a manner that addresses all the critical needs of its ethnic, cultural clients.
8. White House Administration work with the Department of Education to urge the education and academic community to develop curricula and programs to train health and human service professionals to better meet the needs of father’s. Historically Health and Human service professionals have been geared towards mothers. Father’s growing involvement with their children and families require the same level of attention mother’s receive.
9. Require that programs for fathers, mother’s who are in relationships receive couples employment training, job placement, financial literacy are allowable services under federal funded fatherhood, healthy relationship healthy marriage grants. Economic factors such as limited financial resources, unemployment can serve as barriers for low-income fathers, couples.
10. Lead call to action on need of mentorship for our nation’s fatherless children. National Mentoring Project estimates over 17 million US children in need of mentorship. Recruit fathers, father figures and men to mentor our children.   

 President Obama White House

Fatherhood and Healthy Families Final Agenda Report

President Obama Fatherhood and Healthy Families Report focused on three areas:

1. National Fatherhood and Mentoring Pledge Campaign to raise public awareness on the importance of Fatherhood, Families and Mentorship
2. 500 Million Fatherhood, Marriage and Family Innovation Fund currently pending congressional action, which is designed as a one year demonstration competitive grant to increase funding for programs, research and services.
3. White House will be outlining a calendar of Strategic convening’s to connect Fatherhood and Youth-Serving organizations to Sector Partnerships.

Julia Carson Responsible Fatherhood and Healthy Families Act of 2009 

Responsible Fatherhood Bill Focus on the Following areas:

1. States to asses their Child Support and Criminal Justice Policies that impacts debt, father’s ability to meet child support obligations.
2. Increase efforts working with ex-offender fathers child support obligations.
3. Reauthorize TANF responsible fatherhood and healthy marriage grants.
4. Increase year-to-year annual funding for responsible fatherhood programs.
5. Prohibit States from considering a period of incarceration as “voluntary” unemployment for the purpose of child support.
6. Establish grant programs to fund employment and training for fathers.    

Responsible Fatherhood Movement

Responsible Fatherhood Movement started in 1994 in response to several factors:  

1. Since late 60’s we have seen steady decline in the institution of marriage in the African American community and an increase in out of wedlock births to single mother headed households who received federal funded assistance.
2. Growing plight, alarming national trend of father absence affecting nearly all races, with particular concern in the African American Community, which is eroding the very fabric and foundation of our children and families.
3. President Ronald Regan Policies, budget cuts, increase in joblessness, unemployment, incarceration, Drugs, Crack Cocaine, Alcohol, AIDS killing our communities, high school dropout rates and teenage pregnancy.   
4. President Clinton initiated policies on responsible fatherhood when he worked on welfare reform in 1995, holding father’s accountable for financial support for their children and families through child support obligations.
5. Limited research, programs available to work with fathers and elevate field.
6. Julia Carson Responsible Fatherhood, Healthy Families Act/legislation that impacts fatherhood funding, fathers ability to meet child support obligations.
7. Opportunity to support President Obama interest/Agenda on Fatherhood. 

Fatherhood Leaders, Organizations, Programs

Fatherhood Movement Primary Leaders:

1. Dr. Ron Mincy-Premier Research Leaders on Fathers and Families 
2. Dr. Jeff Johnson-President/CEO National Center for Strategic Nonprofit Planning and Community Leadership
3. Joe Jones-President, center for urban families/helping fathers, families work
4. Roland Warren-President, National Fatherhood Initiative
5. Cary Casey-President, National Center for Fathering
6. Bill Stephney-CEO, StepSun Music Entertainment
7. Kenny Braswell-Fatherhood Incorporated
8. Derek Phillips-RealDads Network
9. James Rodriquez-President/CEO Fathers and Families Coalition of America
10. Marvin Charles- DADS Divine Alternative For Dads
11. Robert Johnson-Celebrate DADS Program
12. Allan Houston-Former NBA player/Allan Houston Legacy Foundation
13. Thabiti Boone-Prominent Figure, Leading Voice on Fatherhood/Black Boys
14. Kirk E. Harris Esq.-National Fatherhood Leadership Group

Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. Fatherhood Involvement 

Bro. Boone invited as prominent figure to participate with President Obama’s White House Fatherhood Agenda and Congressional Hearings on Fatherhood. Boone shared with Fraternity need to support President, Congress and Fathers.   

Bro. Boone/Bro. Fairchild have been working side-by-side in the following areas:

1. Create Fraternity Dialogue, interest and activities on Fatherhood.
2. Stay at the table with President Obama/Congressional Fatherhood Agenda,

Fraternity Fatherhood Activities include:

1. 2nd/3rd District Brother’s, join Bro. Boone at Congressional Hearing on Congressman Danny Davis Fatherhood Bill.
2. Bro. Boone attend Alpha Omega Chapter meeting to discuss President Obama Fatherhood Agenda and Congressman Danny Davis Fatherhood Bill.
3. Bro. Boone invites Bro. Fairchild meet with Helen Mitchell, Director for Strategic Planning and Policy Development for Congressman Danny Davis.
4. 3rd District CBC Fatherhood Forum cosponsored by Congressional Omega Brothers James Clyburn, Jesse Jackson, Jr., Hank Johnson, Kendrick Meeks.
5. Fatherhood/Theme at annual Founders Day Program/Howard University.
6. 3rd District Fatherhood Committee created under Bro. Fairchild leadership.
7. Bro. Boone attends White House Fatherhood TownHall Forum with US Attorney General Eric Holder at Morehouse College, Atlanta, GA.
8. Bro. Boone/Bro. Fairchild Fatherhood meeting with Congressman. Johnson.
9. Bro. Fairchild leads meetings with DC Department of Health partners on joint effort to impact fathers in DC Depart. Of Health Fathers Program.
10. 3rd District Conference Host Fatherhood Forum with guest Helen Mitchell.
11. President Obama White House Fatherhood, Healthy Families Agenda mtg.
12. 2nd District DR Bro. Kenny Rogers puts Fatherhood on 2nd District agenda.
13. Bro. Boone share Fatherhood remarks at 12th District Achievement week.
14. Bro. Boone share Fatherhood remarks at 7th District State Caucus meeting.

Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Fatherhood Plan of Action

• President Obama White House Fatherhood Agenda, Congressman Danny Davis Fatherhood Bill and Fatherhood issues on Conclave Agenda.
• Invite White House, Congressional and Fatherhood leaders to address Conclave Brotherhood, Supreme Council on respective Fatherhood Agenda.
• Conclave strategy meeting with Supreme Council on the following:

1. Support for President Obama White House Fatherhood Agenda
2. Position on Congressman Danny Davis Fatherhood Bill
3. Establish Fatherhood Platform, Programs and Initiatives

• Establish National Fatherhood Committee to focus on following areas:

1. Grand Basileus/Committee meets with President on Fatherhood.
2. Grand Basileus/Committee meets with Congressional Brotherhood.
3. Meet with Congressman Danny Davis on Fatherhood Bill.
4. White House, Congressional and Fatherhood programs partnerships.
5. Public Policy, Public Awareness and Advocacy.
6. National Fraternity Fatherhood Programs and Initiatives. 

• President Obama Responsible Fatherhood and Healthy Families Agenda:

1. National Fatherhood and Mentoring Pledge Campaign

• Formally Endorse/Support President Obama Pledge Campaign.
• Attend/participate with President Obama Pledge Campaign launch activity.
• Fraternity to encourage Brotherhood and Associates to take pledge.
• Districts, Chapters conduct Pledge Card Distribution activities
• Conduct Pledge Card Public Awareness activities  

1. $500 Million Fatherhood, Marriage and Family Innovation Fund Proposal

• Meet with White House Administration on Innovation Fund Proposal.
• Formal letter of support for president Obama Innovative Fund
• Have Policy Meetings with Congressional Brother’s and Leaders.
• Attend Congressional Hearings on Innovation Fund
• Conduct Public Awareness Forums and Activities on Innovation Fund. 

1. Community Partnerships

• Committee act on behalf of Fraternity in regard to Fatherhood partnerships.