According to the National Fatherhood Initiative, 1 of 3 kids live in a home without their biological father. In the Journal of Family Psychology, “researchers found that father-child contact was associated with better socio-emotional and academic functioning. The results indicated that children with more involved fathers experienced fewer behavioral problems and scored higher on reading achievement.” The U.S. Census Bureau found kids without dads are four times more likely to be poor. The Journal of Research on Adolescence found “youths in father-absent households still had significantly higher odds of incarceration than those in mother-father families. Youths who never had a father in the household experienced the highest odds.”

It’s clear dads are needed. The natural bond between them and their biological children is difficult to replace or replicate.

To say that dads are needed is an understatement. Dads bring a gentle strength and sense of security to a family. My dad died back in 2004, and I still miss him every day. He taught me how to look people in the eye, shake hands firmly, fix things, swing a golf club, and throw a baseball. He was a constant, quiet, ever-supportive, loving presence in my life. Happiest of Father’s Days to all the great dads out there.