In 1960, only 11 percent of all children across the United States lived in a home without a biological father present.

In 2009, that number jumped to 33 percent, or 24 million, children without a biological father in the home, 64 percent being African-American, 34 percent being Hispanic and 25 percent being White, according to statistics from the National Fatherhood Initiative website.

And with an absent father, can come a host of problems. Research shows children are two to three more times likely to be poor, use drugs, experience educational, health, emotional and behavioral problems, be victims of child abuse and engage in criminal behavior.

Because of this growing trend, the National Fatherhood Initiative was created in 1994 to try and get a handle on this problem by creating programs that would help men learn how to become better fathers and stay involved in their children’s lives.

Since it’s inception, there has been improvement and from 2004-2009, there was a four percent decrease in father absences and two million children are now living with their biological fathers as a result of NFI’s efforts.

“Fathers play a unique and irreplaceable role in their children’s lives and part of NFI’s mission is to communicate this message to the public.,” said the website.

Although this is a national initiative, Bill Morgan feels strongly about its need in Baldwin County and fills his days as a case worker for the Baldwin County Fatherhood Initiative, Inc. in Robertsdale.

“We work through the NFI and use their materials to teach two classes a quarter (24/7 Dad) on Tuesday and Thursday nights from 6-7:45 p.m. at the Central Annex in Robertsdale and at the Bay Minette Public Library in Bay Minette. This is a 12 week course and we usually have about 10 guys in each class.,” Morgan said.

In the class, men learn how to not only be a physical presence in their children’s lives but also how to take care of them financially. “It reaches out to fathers in their situation and explains why they need to initially get started making their payments. It makes them feel good about themselves and shows them that taking care of their kids makes good things start to happen,” said Bruce Ikner, BCFI president.

Most men are assigned to the class through the court system but some come on their own, Morgan said, and in addition to the class, Morgan also shows them how to find employment so they can make their payments.

“We have about 40 guys a month in the program with 68 percent of them being single, 23 percent being married and 12 percent being divorced. The largest age groups are 20-29 at 35 percent and 30-39 at 40 percent. The younger and older groups are smaller in number,” Morgan said.

“I work with the Interagency Council in Baldwin County so I meet with all the people who work with the various ministries in our community and I try to refer them to other agencies that can help them,” Morgan said.

And his efforts seem to be paying off well as he has been able to get $93,000 in child support paid from August, 2009 through July, 2010, with 42 percent of the men having some sort of employment whether it be part-time or full-time, Morgan said.

“Most of these guys come from a rough background and Bill says many times in his sessions they really open up and he’s surprised from where they have come from. He often has to re-teach life to them,” Ikner said.

Morgan, a retired teacher and minister when not at work, has high hopes for the men in his program and wants them to succeed. “”it’’s not easy, but I’m the only one in the system who is speaking for these guys. But all I can do is lead them to the water. I can’t make them drink. If they refuse any kind of help or just won’t meet with me, it’s up to the courts to deal with them,”:

However, this program would not be possible without the help of The Children’s Trust Fund, a part of the Alabama Department of Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention, in Montgomery, who awarded BCFI $50,000 in grant money on Monday, November 29.

Established in 1983 as part of the Martin-Aldridge Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Act to address the state’s growing problem ot child neglect and maltreatment, this fund awarded over $978,000 to 23 Fatherhood programs across the state and with State dollars through the General Fund and Educational Trust Fund, $1,762,750 was given to traditional child abuse prevention programs, according to the CTF website.

Officials from CTF were on hand Monday morning at CARE House in Summerdale to present $125,000 in grant money to four Baldwin County agencies. In addition to BCFI, Baldwin County Mental Health Center, Inc, REAP (Reaching and Encouraging Active Parenting) Program received $40,000 to be used for home visiting, CARE House, Inc. received two $10,000 grants for Internet/Online Safety Training and Mandatory Reporter Training (accurately report child abuse) and Catholic Social Services Family Service Center in Bay Minette received two grants, $40,000 fro home visiting and $25,000 for school-based survival skills for youth.

Milton Jackson, Field Director for CTF, said this is a yearly grant agencies can apply for and they are reviewed in April of each year by a board for two to three months.

“We are very delighted to be able to present this money today. We appreciate all the services these grantee’s provide. Baldwin County is so large, we are thankful for so many good agencies that help these children,” Jackson said. “We have been doing this for 26 years and have helped 175 programs with this money.”

According to the CTF site, this money is intended to provide annual funding of community-based prevention programs throughout the state as well as create a self-sustaining pool of funds to provide for funding these programs in the future.

In addition to the grant money, Morgan said they usually have a 5k Father/Son race in April in Bay Minette as a fundraiser and also participate in the Belk Charity Day sale each year.

To learn more about BCFI or make a donation, contact Bill Morgan at (251)945-2417 or email at bcfatherhood@centurytel.net.