Stronger Families, Stronger Communities
At Man Up, we’re working with lawmakers to address generational fatherlessness and reverse the negative consequences on our kids.
Shockingly, children born in the United States are more likely to grow up fatherless than children born in any other country around the world.
Fatherlessness is wholly or partly responsible for nearly every possible negative childhood outcome - from poor educational performance to behavioral and mental health disorders to teen pregnancy and suicide.
The fatherhood crisis is a significant crack in the foundations of our homes and communities. If we don’t act quickly and decisively, cycles will continue to perpetuate and countless more kids will begin their lives in an uphill battle for a healthy, stable life.
Today, in the U.S., 1 in 4 kids are growing up without a father figure in the home.
In 2022 Florida passed House Bill 7065, otherwise known as The Fatherhood Bill. The bill passed in the House of Representatives unanimously, 117-0, sending a message that this is not just a personal issue. It’s not just a family issue. It’s a community issue - and it’s time to act.
The bill funded several initiatives to help end fatherlessness - whether it’s through coaching fathers at risk of having their children removed, supporting fathers as they work towards reunification, helping to re-establish fathers who have spent time in jail, or providing mentors for kids aging out of the foster care system.
Man Up is one of several organizations partnering in this work, and we are on track to impact nearly 700 fathers over three years. We have already seen cycles of addiction broken, families reunited, and purposes rediscovered. Several dads that started as program participants are now serving as leaders in the program to support and encourage other dads.
We’ve discovered a lot over the last few years, but what we’ve learned most definitively is that we can make a real impact on this issue - and we must.
If you have any questions about Man Up and Go or how legislation like this could make a difference in your community, you can reach out to our CEO, Jeff Ford, at jford@manupandgo.org.
What the experts are saying
Man Up CEO Jeff Ford and co-host Allan Pereira sit down with Judge Manning to discuss why children are separated from their parents and hear exclusive insights from the courtroom about the impact of fatherlessness on society.
Man Up CEO Jeff Ford and co-host Allan Pereira sit down with Patricia Littlejohn and Patrick Patterson from Global Partners for Fathers & Families to discuss how fatherlessness affects far more than just families—it has ripple effects on poverty, crime, and drug use in our communities.
Man Up CEO Jeff Ford and co-host Allan Pereira sit down with fatherhood engagement specialists Vijay Chandra and Taylor Jackson as they dive deep into the realities of the child welfare system with firsthand insights from the field.
Man Up CEO Jeff Ford and co-host Allan Pereira sit down with Judge Aaron Hubbard, to tackle the complexities of fatherhood, legislation, and the justice system. Together, they explore the critical intersection of fatherhood advocacy and systemic change.
Man Up CEO Jeff Ford and co-host Allan Pereira sit down with Fatherhood Preservation Specialist JB Bailey who pulls back the curtain on what it looks like to support fathers in crisis and help keep families together.
Man Up CEO Jeff Ford and co-host Allan Pereira sit down with Jenn Petion, President & CEO of Family Support Services, who shares the importance of prioritize family preservation and support struggling parents before a crisis occurs.