Additionally, Changing Fatherhood believes that courage becomes the cornerstone for fathers who are concerned with creating social, political and economic conditions within communities that promote optimum development of the family. Courage insulates our sons with the weaponry needed to confront racism, biases, underemployment, frustration and criminality.

At present we believe that fatherlessness in America is perhaps the largest social ill that impacts families. Specifically within the African American community single head of household represent some alarming trends. The trend of fatherless homes can be attributed to escalating drop out rates, increasing levels of juvenile delinquency among boys and out of wedlock births among youth and young adults.

The following, provides a glimpse into the increasing level of risk that males growing up without a father are faced with:

• 63% of youth suicides are from fatherless homes; 90% of all homeless and runaway children are from fatherless
• 85% of all children who exhibit behavioral disorders come from fatherless homes
• 80% of rapists come from fatherless homes 71% of all high school dropouts come from fatherless homes; 75% of all adolescent patients in chemical abuse centers come from fatherless homes
• 70% of juveniles in state-operated institutions come from fatherless homes; 85% of all youths sitting in prisons grew up in a fatherless home.

These statistics (U.S. D.H.H.S., Bureau of the Census) translate to mean that children from a fatherless home are:

• 5 times more likely to commit suicide
• 32 times more likely to run away
• 20 times more likely to have behavioral disorders
• 14 times more likely to commit rape
• 9 times more likely to drop out of high school
• 10 times more likely to abuse chemical substances
• 9 times more likely to end up in a state-operated institution
• 20 times more likely to end up in prison

Changing Fatherhood has teamed up with a number of very talented men and women across the U.S. to support an on going dialogue around the role of fathers. This dialogue will be focused on supporting mothers, reconnecting fathers and families, impacting policy initiatives, and strengthening communities. Changing Fatherhood will also be hosting special seminars about the role of fathers at the Raising Him Alone Kickoff's as well as partnering with community groups to host seminars in targeted communities.

Additionally, several individuals will serve as guest bloggers as part of the Raising Him Alone Campaign to support single mothers who are raising boys. The Changing Fatherhood web site (www.changingfatherhood.com) will officially launch in May 2009. These individuals include:
Cassandra Mack, Strategies for Empowered Living; Kenneth Braswell, New York Father Initiative; Joel Austin, Daddy Universitcity; Richard Rowe, African American Male Leadership Institute; Adeyemi Bandale, Men on the Move .