By: D.J. Jordan
Father’s Day is one of my favorite days of the year, hands down!
It’s great. Everyone treats me like a King. I can do no wrong. And I can to do one of my favorite things – eat lots of great food! …with my family, of course.
But let’s not let another Father’s Day pass without analyzing how fathers and families are doing in our community.
For the past several years, I have volunteered with the Prince William County Fatherhood Initiative, a program that help dads do what’s in the best interest of their children. Unfortunately, programs like this are needed because we have millions of children in our nation that grow up without engaged fathers.
The statistical impact of fatherlessness is clear: children without an engaged father are four times more likely to live in poverty, two times more likely to drop out of high school, and seven times more likely to become pregnant as a teen. Young people from father-absent homes are 279% more likely to illegally carry guns and deal drugs than peers living with their fathers.
Absent fathers not only have an impact on our individual households, they have an impact on our public safety and public policy. When families and children falter, the government tries to step in to help or fill the need.
This is not a partisan issue. Leaders from all political backgrounds have raised the alarm about this issue. President George W. Bush once said, “Not only are fathers essential to the healthy development of children, they also influence the strength of families and the stability of communities.” President Obama once said, “What makes you a man is not the ability to make a child, it’s the courage to raise one.”
Fellow men, we must step up. It’s a shame that so many mothers are being left to raise and provide for children without assistance from fathers. It doesn’t matter if you’re married to your kids’ mom or not, you have a responsibility not only to your children, but a responsibility to your community to take care of your child.
Last month, I released a set of policy ideas that will help vulnerable children and families in Prince William and Fauquier Counties, as well as Virginians across the Commonwealth. The policy agenda included solutions for fatherlessness, but also other issues impacting families: foster care, human trafficking, poverty, and criminal justice.
Currently, Virginia only has fatherhood programs in a few counties across the Commonwealth. I believe we need to increase investment in them across Virginia. The programs include support groups around topics such as the impact of fatherlessness, healthy co-parenting, conflict resolution, effective discipline, and successful financial management. The men who graduate from these programs become better more confident and engaged dads. Investment in programs like these lead to more stable families, as they deal with root causes of the problem, rather than trying to treat a symptom.
Our nation, state, and local communities are only as strong as our families. It is my hope that our state government isn’t just judged simply by how much money we spend on assistance programs, but rather if these programs actually work to help people escape poverty or vulnerable situations, to reach their full potential for themselves and their families.
DJ Jordan is the Republican candidate running for Virginia House of Delegates District 31 seat in Prince William and Fauquier counties.
Recent Stories
The Prince William County School Board is considering a proposal that would redistrict three new residential developments in the Brentsville District due to overcrowding at The Nokesville School, Insidenova.com reports.
The School Board in November directed division staff to develop a redistricting proposal related to the three developments. The division brought the proposal to the board at its Jan. 22 meeting.
The three developments – Bristow Corner, Bristow Crossing and Thomas Farm at Bristow Station – have already been approved by the Prince William Board of County Supervisors and would be districted to The Nokesville School.
Flanked by UVA Health-branded bags filled with pregnancy supplies beside a table of neatly-aligned cupcakes, nurse Teresa Baltuano-Post addressed a crowd of expectant mothers and their families, alternating between English and Spanish, Insidenova.com reports.
“I’ve been doing the baby shower for about 24 years,” Baltuano-Post told InsideNoVa. “The goal … is to educate our moms and to make sure they know what to do when they need to come to the hospital.”
Get ready for a windy Wednesday across the region, as conditions are expected to be quite blustery throughout the day. The National Weather Service is forecasting a more widespread wind event, with gusts reaching between 40-50 mph in most areas, except for parts of central Virginia and southern Maryland.
A Wind Advisory will be in place from late Wednesday morning into the early evening as a potent front drops south across the area. The gusty conditions will be accompanied by lower relative humidity, raising concerns for fire weather in central Virginia. The winds will slowly subside by late evening but be prepared for sustained gusts during the day.
Weems Elementary School in Manassas has seen remarkable progress in recent years, particularly in reducing chronic absenteeism and improving student literacy. Under the leadership of Principal Michelle Huppman, the school has created an environment focused on equity, achievement, and community involvement, leading to academic improvements.
One of the school’s most notable achievements is reducing chronic absenteeism. In the 2022-2023 school year, Weems faced a concerning % chronic absence rate of 28%. This figure, which emerged after the pandemic, reflected the challenges many schools faced. However, the school has halved that number through dedication and hard work. “I am so happy to share with you that Weems’ current chronic absence rate, as reflected in the school quality profile, is half of that number, down to 14%. This is a school community that rose to the challenge,” said Sarah Brescia, a Manassas City school board member.
The improvement in attendance has had a direct impact on student achievement. Huppman explained, “Last year, we had a 24% increase in literacy pass rates for our students in kindergarten through second grade. For the Virginia Standards of Learning reading test, we had a 6% increase in pass rates for our students in third and fourth grade.” While math scores dropped slightly due to virtual instruction during the pandemic, Principal Huppman is optimistic about the future. “This year, we are fully staffed in all classrooms and in all instructional support positions without the need for virtual instructors,” she said.
Travel to French soil and join us for a night filled with two of the most beloved French traditions—no plane ticket required! ?
On January 25th, we invite you to experience the magic of Galette des Rois, a 700-year-old tradition celebrated across France throughout the entire month of January (and even beyond!). This sweet, almond-filled puff pastry topped with a golden crown isn’t just a treat—it’s a celebration! The lucky person who finds the fève (a porcelain charm hidden in one of the slices) becomes the King or Queen for the Day, and don’t worry—there will be plenty of royalty to go around! ??
But that’s not all! In France, Les Voeux (New Year’s wishes) continue throughout January, often accompanied by Champagne and good cheer. We’re bringing that festive spirit to you, with a lively evening packed with French food, wine, and music.
What’s in store:
Experience the passion and drama of Puccini’s “The Girl from the Golden West”.
Featuring special guest musicians from The Chesapeake Youth Orchestra,
this performance brings Puccini’s masterpiece to life with an extraordinary cast.
