Men are more likely than women to commit crime, find themselves homeless or engage in risky behavior. The common denominator for all these issues, as well as a multitude of others, is fatherlessness. Children are four times more likely to be poor if the father is not around, according to “Failure is Not an Option” author Alan Blankstein.
The growth of fatherlessness, as well as its negative impacts, is unsurprisingly getting worse as those of us in King County know quite well. Now is the time to support House Bill 1917, which establishes and funds a “men’s commission” that identifies challenges men face and recommends policies/programs to increase fathers’ engagement across Washington.
Our society needs men, just like it needs women, to operate effectively. Let’s understand and include all Washingtonians to make a better Washington.
Gordon Bock, Federal Way