Governor's Council on Child Abuse and Neglect The Council advocates policies for the prevention, detection, prosecution and treatment of child abuse and neglect. The Council provides professional education through the annual Governor's Conference on Child Abuse and Neglect, and advocates for legislation that promotes the safety of children. The Trust Fund is committed to preventing child abuse and neglect before it occurs by providing grants to community-based organizations for innovative prevention, education, and treatment programs. Too many children do not reach their full potential because parents are ill equipped to rear them or because parents do not have the support they need to be successful at the most important job in the world. We need to better utilize parent education programs and develop a seamless system of services for children that includes parental support at every turn.
Men play a significant role in helping children grow up with positive role models.
Boys without fathers often look to each other or other powerful men in the community. This can lead boys to model the behavior of drug dealers and others engaged in illegal activity. The National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health found that adolescents who have a strong emotional attachment with their parents and teachers that makes them feel understood are far less likely to use drugs, drink alcohol, smoke, attempt suicide, and have sex. Having a parent or parents present at key times of the day also protects adolescents . 2 Several special programs have been established to address the unique needs of young fathers.