Illinois State House District 8 issued the following announcement on June 13.
State Representative La Shawn K. Ford (D-CH), Attorney Jeffery M. Leving, Chicago Fathers for Change, Books Over Balls and Illinois fathers are calling for changes to Illinois parenting laws. A press conference will be held on Sunday, June 16, 2019 at Moore Park at 12:00 p.m. to bring awareness to the necessity of having fair parenting laws in Illinois. Ford believes it is crucial that Illinois provides fair parenting laws for the benefit of the children. “It’s in the children’s best interest to have a father figure in their life,” said Ford. “Children are more likely to be involved in bad behavior including drug and alcohol abuse without fathers present. The emotional damage that may occur to children without having both parental figures alone calls for equal and fair parenting rights in Illinois.”
There is a father absence crisis in America. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 19.7 million children, more than 1 in 4, live without a father in the home. According to Sandra L. Hofferth, a professor of family science, a study of 1,977 children age 3 and older living with a residential father or father figure found that children living with married biological parents had significantly fewer externalizing and internalizing behavioral problems than children living with at least one non-biological parent. Jeffery M. Leving, attorney and author of “How to be a Good Divorced Dad” joins Ford and Illinois fathers in the call for fair parenting laws in Illinois. “We must make sure fathers have the opportunity to stay involved in the lives of their children,” said Leving. “Law reform and social justice are critical components to accomplish this goal. Research and experience show that children’s health, education, safety, financial condition and future relationships depend heavily on the input of fathers.
We must never forget that the most reliable predictor of crime and child abuse in America is directly related to the father’s absence. Children need their dads and it is our moral obligation to make this happen for all children in every communities.” According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 19.7 million children, more than 1 in 4, live without a father in the home. Consequently, there is a father factor in nearly all social ills facing America.
Original source can be found here.
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