I'm sure you're well-aware of the drug abuse, suicide, and violent crime rates with regards to young men. It's all over the headlines these days and, with the latest school shooting in Florida, it's become impossible to ignore. There is a real problem here.

And, while the rest of the world focuses on gun control and legislation in hopes of putting a bandaid over the problems that are becoming all too common, I'd encourage us here within the Order of Man to look at the root of the problem, which I believe is fatherless homes.

Let's take a look at some of the statistics:

• 63% of youth suicides are from fatherless homes (US Dept. Of Health/Census).
• 85% of all children who show behavior disorders come from fatherless homes (Center for Disease Control).
• 71% of all high school dropouts come from fatherless homes (National Principals Association Report).
• 70% of youths in state-operated institutions come from fatherless homes (U.S. Dept. of Justice, Sept. 1988).
• 85% of all youths in prison come from fatherless homes (Fulton Co. Georgia, Texas Dept. of Correction).

I could go on and on about this but I think you can see that there is a problem with fathers being absent in the home. I do want to be very clear here, this is not intended to put down women who are raising children on their own. My mom did for much of my early life and she did a terrific job. That said, the facts are the facts. And this is what the data is telling us.

I know I could also talk with you about the impacts on girls when fathers are absent but for the sake of this discussion, I want to talk about boys exclusively because it's boys who are perpetuating much of the problems we see in society. I believe the solution is homes where fathers are present and engaged.

What I wanted to do today is connect the dots between boys and fathers and why this relationship is so critical for the well-being of our sons and society as a whole. Here are 5 reasons why dads are needed now more than ever.

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