ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Hundreds of fathers are now involved in their children’s lives and education thanks to Orange County’s Head Start program.
A goal set by the program five years ago is now making a huge impact on kids across the area. The goal was to increase father engagement in support of school readiness by this year.
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“Help them finding jobs, help them get GEDs and different things. So that they can be able to be the father that they may desire to be or the father that they never had,” said Leviticus Henderson Sr., who graduated from the 24/7 Dad program.
He said in the program he learned some men who grew up without a father tend to distance themselves from their own kids out of fear.
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“They are afraid that they don’t know how to be a father and make mistakes,” he said.
He said the program is all about giving dads an honest and transparent support system where they can lean on others like them.
“That, hey, we’re not here to judge you. We’re not here to condemn you. But we’re here to help you. And I believe that is what helps other fathers come aboard,” he said.
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Research shows when dads get more involved, it greatly impacts a child’s cognitive and social development.
But it’s estimated that one in three children live without a father present in the home. That includes about 20% of white children, 31% of Hispanic children, and more than 57% of black children.
Many consider it the most significant family or social problem facing our country.
Henderson knows he’s a better dad after completing the program, and said he can see the impact of quality time with his son.
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“It teaches him it’s OK to be vulnerable. It’s okay to cry. It’s okay to do all these other things. Why? Because dad is right there,” he said.
He said it gives all four of his kids a confidence boost.
“With the girls, they have a sense of protection. They always know dad is going to be there no matter what,” he said.
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And for dads who wonder where they can start, Henderson said it can be as simple as just picking their children up from school.
“That’s something you don’t see men do,” Henderson said. “Why? Because they’re typically busy, busy providing, but it shows them ‘hey, you matter because I took a time away from what I love to do to provide for you to show you that none of that matters more than you.’”
