Fatherhood Movement

Thirty years of high divorce rates and risingbirth rates among unwed mothers have left the United States a nation of fatherless households. More than a third of American children don't live with their biological fathers, and 17 million don't live with any fathers at all. Of those, about 40 percent haven't seen their fathers in a year. As the nation prepares to honor fathers on June 18, child-development experts are hoping a growing nonpartisan, multiracial, “responsible fatherhood” movement, dedicated to reconnecting estranged dads with their kids, will help increase fathers' involvement in their kids' lives. But some question whether having fathers involved in children's lives is essential, while others say that some of the movement's goals -- such as promoting marriage and joint custody -- will hurt mothers.