Fathers play a vital role in educating their children. Too many children grow up rarely seeing their father or any positive male role model, and yearn to have the influence of a male in their lives.

Although many single mothers are doing an outstanding job of raising their children, the lack of a dad's influence is sorely felt by society. Poverty, teen pregnancy and juvenile delinquency are a few unfortunate outcomes that can stem from a father's lack of involvement. When fathers are actively involved, they can make a tremendous difference in their children's education and lives.

Nationally, there is an increasing percentage of children who are growing up without the active involvement of their father. Almost 40% of America's children go to sleep each night in a house where the biological father is absent. Since 1950, the percentage of American children in mother-only families climbed from 6 percent to 24 percent in 1994. According to Census Bureau data, 19 million children were living in families with no dad present in 1994. Between 1985 and 1992, the number of families with children headed by a single mother increased in every state and the District of Columbia. The number of our children living in mother-only families is increasing in cities, suburbs and rural areas, and is rising in among all racial groups.

The absence of a father from a family has many implications, but among the most predictable is low family income. Children whose fathers are absent are more likely to be classified as poor or extremely poor. These children are also likely to have less parental time and supervision. Children of single mothers are twice as likely to drop out of high school and significantly more likely to end up in foster or group care and in facilities for juvenile delinquents. Girls from single-parent families are three times more likely to bear children as unwed teens. Boys whose dads are absent face a much higher probability of growing up unemployed, incarcerated and uninvolved with their own children.

There is a growing body of research emphasizing the important role fathers' involvement can play in the cognitive, emotional and social development of their sons and daughters.

Original Charter

John Finn--DADS Founder

Gerry Valella--Founder, DADS Charter for Comstock Public Schools

Vito Valella--Program Coordinator, DADS Charter for Comstock Public Schools

William James--President, DADS Charter for Comstock Public Schools 2006-2007

David Webster--Vice President, DADS Charter for Comstock Public Schools 2006-2007

Charter Members -
DADS Charter for Comstock Public Schools - Presidents

Glenn Green - President - Current
William James - President 2006-2007
Ken O'Halloran - President 2005 - 2006,
Michel Mussche - President 2003-2005