Statement of Need
Fatherlessness is a significant problem in the US, and research shows that a father-absent childhood can significantly affect the children’s perception of life, as well as their life choices and self-image. Statistics on fatherless homes s how that households with absent fathers also have a higher chance of being under the poverty line and underachieve in their academics. In short, the absence of a father in a family can lead to serious consequences and even fatal outcomes. These are just a few examples of the negative impact of the crisis of fatherlessness that Boys2Men seeks to influence and reverse in the lives of the young men in our community:
In summary, when boys grow up without fathers, male mentors and positive role models it has a devastating impact on them, their families and our society. Children who have experienced absence, ambivalence, or avoidance with their father relationship develop negative thoughts and attitudes regarding themselves, their teachers, their school, and their future. In contrast, kids who had a good relationship with their fathers generally have a more positive self-concept as well as better social and emotional skills. A male role model and positive father-like relationship has a significant impact on children’s health and academic performance (National Library of Medicine). Researchers have further linked the involvement of a father figure to positive outcomes in child behavior, cognitive capabilities, and overall development. Our program has the potential to be life-transforming in the lives of the young men that we serve
- Divorce rates are over 50%.
- Over 40% of all families are single parents.
- 85% of youths in prison grew up in a fatherless home.
- FBI statistics show gang membership has increased from 50,000 in 1975 to 1,150,000 in 2008 and may be responsible for up to 80% of crime in the U.S. today.
- With more than 2.3 million people behind bars, the U. S. now leads the world in both the number and percentage of men it incarcerates.
- 7 million American dads were absent from the life of all their minor children
- Divorce is the leading cause of fatherless homes (fathers.org)
- Father absence statistics show that adolescent women from fatherless homes have a higher chance of getting pregnant (National Library of Medicine)
- According to the national statistics, 25.6% of children - roughly 19.7 million minors - lived in fatherless homes (Census Bureau)
- Fatherlessness is linked to higher rates of suicide in high school students (Wiley Online Library)
- Children from single-parent homes participate in more government support, nutrition, and education programs
- Fatherlessness is linked to lower educational levels
- Statistics on fatherless homes indicate that many of these families in the US live in poverty (U.S. Department of Health & Human Services)
- Fatherlessness is linked to the increased risk of infant mortality (National Library of Medicine)
- Father absence in a child’s life may increase the likelihood of young men engaging in criminal activities (Sage Journals)
- Professionals found that juveniles from fatherless homes are 279% more likely to carry guns and participate in drug trafficking than those who live with their fathers
In summary, when boys grow up without fathers, male mentors and positive role models it has a devastating impact on them, their families and our society. Children who have experienced absence, ambivalence, or avoidance with their father relationship develop negative thoughts and attitudes regarding themselves, their teachers, their school, and their future. In contrast, kids who had a good relationship with their fathers generally have a more positive self-concept as well as better social and emotional skills. A male role model and positive father-like relationship has a significant impact on children’s health and academic performance (National Library of Medicine). Researchers have further linked the involvement of a father figure to positive outcomes in child behavior, cognitive capabilities, and overall development. Our program has the potential to be life-transforming in the lives of the young men that we serve
Sustained Impact Statement
Boys2Men is entering its 10th year as an organization. We have more than doubled in our members since our first mentoring group. We see a deep need for young men to have a place to belong and people in their lives who will encourage and equip them to have hope for the future.
Tragically, youth suicides in our immediate area continue to be on the rise. According to a recent C DC Survey of the “Cleveland Schools Suicide Rate” more than 20% of the Cleveland Metropolitan School District buildings have reported attempted suicide in 2015. Out of the 19 urban school districts surveyed across the United States, Cleveland had the highest rate of attempted youth suicide. According to the U.S. Department of Health, 63% of youth suicides are from fatherless homes, 5x the rate of those with fathers in the home.
Boys2Men, Inc. is a program that attempts to stand in the gap for these young men. B2M provides young males with a father-like mentor figure. This program offers encouragement, practical skills, service experiences, and educational enrichment, reducing at-risk behaviors, and increasing opportunities for positive outcomes. Of the members of B2M who have graduated from high school in our program, we have celebrated twelve B2M students who have graduated from college. One of our program graduates is currently in college and two others are serving in the armed forces. All of our young men who have attended our program have a good sense of preparing themselves for careers. Our success rate has been incredible as we have had the privilege of investing in young men by forming relationships and instructing them in basic life skills, time management, financial stewardship, personal life choices, and friendship skills.
We are also a community of men who give personal guidance, support, advice, assistance, and encouragement. Our motto is "Helping boys to become better men." B2M's focus is for every boy to have a successful career path. We believe our impact is compounded year after year of being involved with a student’s progression. Students develop an understanding of their skills and abilities to help t hem to decide on crafting a plan for their future. In the development of social skills and service to the community, the B2M program is designed to impact the trajectory of the lives of young men and to impact our community by doing service projects like spring cleanup for senior citizens, community gardening, and feeding the homeless in the inner-city.
Tragically, youth suicides in our immediate area continue to be on the rise. According to a recent C DC Survey of the “Cleveland Schools Suicide Rate” more than 20% of the Cleveland Metropolitan School District buildings have reported attempted suicide in 2015. Out of the 19 urban school districts surveyed across the United States, Cleveland had the highest rate of attempted youth suicide. According to the U.S. Department of Health, 63% of youth suicides are from fatherless homes, 5x the rate of those with fathers in the home.
Boys2Men, Inc. is a program that attempts to stand in the gap for these young men. B2M provides young males with a father-like mentor figure. This program offers encouragement, practical skills, service experiences, and educational enrichment, reducing at-risk behaviors, and increasing opportunities for positive outcomes. Of the members of B2M who have graduated from high school in our program, we have celebrated twelve B2M students who have graduated from college. One of our program graduates is currently in college and two others are serving in the armed forces. All of our young men who have attended our program have a good sense of preparing themselves for careers. Our success rate has been incredible as we have had the privilege of investing in young men by forming relationships and instructing them in basic life skills, time management, financial stewardship, personal life choices, and friendship skills.
We are also a community of men who give personal guidance, support, advice, assistance, and encouragement. Our motto is "Helping boys to become better men." B2M's focus is for every boy to have a successful career path. We believe our impact is compounded year after year of being involved with a student’s progression. Students develop an understanding of their skills and abilities to help t hem to decide on crafting a plan for their future. In the development of social skills and service to the community, the B2M program is designed to impact the trajectory of the lives of young men and to impact our community by doing service projects like spring cleanup for senior citizens, community gardening, and feeding the homeless in the inner-city.