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National Fatherhood Initiative Research

National Fatherhood Initiative conducts research on fatherhood-related topics and on marriage. In addition, National Fatherhood Initiative also conducts evaluations on the effectiveness of its products and programs.



The One Hundred Billion Dollar Man: The Annual Public Costs of Father Absence (NEW)

The federal government spends $99.8 billion dollars every year on programs - such as child support enforcement and anti-poverty efforts - that support father-absent homes. Download Full Study (1.7 MB)

Responses to the "The One Hundred Billion Dollar Man":

"We hope this report provides additional evidence and clarity regarding the need to reduce father absence and provide fathers, mothers, and children with the supports they need to increase responsible father involvement."
- Senators Evan Bayh (D-IN) and John Thune (R-SD) in a letter to their colleagues

"The report you are seeing here today talks about the economic costs and ...the social costs that Senator Thune spoke of that are so very real and evident on our streets every day."
- Juan Williams, National Public Radio and FoxNews



The Father Factor: Facts of Fatherhood

According to a U.S. Census Bureau report, over 25 million children live apart from their biological fathers. That is 1 out of every 3 (34.5%) children in America. Nearly 2 in 3 (65%) African American children live in father-absent homes. Nearly 4 in 10 (36%) Hispanic children, and nearly 3 in 10 (27%) white children live in father-absent homes.



NEW! National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse "Responsible Fatherhood Spotlights":

Employment, Economic Stability, & Father Involvement
Fathers and Domestic Violence


Data on the Consequences of Father Absence

Click on the links below or scroll down to view data on the Effects of Father Absence on Poverty, Maternal and Child Health, Incarceration, Crime, Teen Pregnancy, Child Abuse, Drug and Alcohol Abuse, Education, and Childhood Obesity.

Poverty | Maternal and Infant Health | Incarceration | Crime | Teen Pregnancy | Child Abuse
Drug and Alcohol Abuse | Education | Childhood Obesity



Father Factor in Poverty

- Children in father-absent homes are five times more likely to be poor. In 2002, 7.8 percent of children in married-couple families were living in poverty, compared to 38.4 percent of children in female-householder families.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Children’s Living Arrangements and Characteristics: March 2002, P200-547, Table C8. Washington D.C.: GPO, 2003.

- During the year before their babies were born, 43% of unmarried mothers received welfare or food stamps, 21% received some type of housing subsidy, and 9% received another type of government transfer (unemployment insurance etc.). For women who have another child, the proportion who receive welfare or food stamps rises to 54%.
Source: McLanahan, Sara. The Fragile Families and Child Well-being Study: Baseline National Report. Princeton, NJ: Center for Research on Child Well-being, 2003: 13.

- A child with a nonresident father is 54 percent more likely to be poorer than his or her father.
Source: Sorenson, Elaine and Chava Zibman. “Getting to Know Poor Fathers Who Do Not Pay Child Support.” Social Service Review 75 (September 2001): 420-434.

- When compared by family structure, 45.9% of poor single-parent families reported material hardship compared to 38.6% of poor two parent families. For unpoor families who did not experience material hardship, 23.3% were single-parent families compared to 41.2% of two-parent families.
Source: Beverly, Sondra G., “Material hardship in the United States: Evidence from the Survey of Income and Program Participation.” Social Work Research 25 (September 2001): 143-151.3