FFSC in The Kansas City Star
Past graduate of FFSC’s 6-week Family Formation program, Toriano Porter shares his own journey as a young, struggling father in St. Louis. He credits Fathers and Families Support Center with providing him the tools he needed to succeed, including:
Financial Assistance: A small weekly stipend that allowed him to focus on the six-week program.
Job Training: Preparing for interviews and professional environments.
Parenting Skills: Learning “soft” parenting techniques and anger management.
The article, Every Missourian should back bipartisan bill to connect fathers with families, written by Toriano Porter for The Kansas City Star, advocates for the passage of Missouri House Bill 1948. The bill seeks to establish the Missouri Fathership Project, a statewide initiative designed to support and re-engage fathers in their children’s lives.
Key Points of the Proposal
- Expansion of Services: The bill would fund positions at nonprofits and community organizations to help men navigate barriers to active parenting, such as addiction recovery, housing instability, and legal hurdles.
- Bipartisan Support: Sponsored by Republican state Rep. Jamie Gragg, the bill has already passed the House with an overwhelming 141-4 vote and is moving to the state Senate.
- Social Impact: The author highlights research showing that children in father-absent homes face higher risks of poverty, incarceration, and emotional distress. Programs like these aim to break those cycles.
