Two-thirds of America’s youth deal with at least one major childhood trauma such as physical or sexual abuse, emotional or physical neglect, or some type of household dysfunction such as domestic violence, substance abuse, separation or divorce, parent in jail or mental illness. All of this affects the ability of our youth to reach and maximize their potential to develop great character, be good students, and become productive citizens. For example: 

• 51% of our youth have aggressive behavior.
• 42% of our youth have been physically and/or sexually abused, neglected, or abandoned.
• 64% of our youth experience school problems.
• 47% of our youth have substance abuse problems.
• 51% of our youth have been arrested.

The shattered lives and lost potential affect not only the children who are suffering, but all of us. The price paid by society for not saving these children is staggering. The following table highlights the life-time cost in current value (2009 dollars) imposed by a career criminal, drug user and high-school dropout on society.

Value of saving a high-risk youth at age 14
(Cohen & Piquero, 2009)

Add to this the following statistics and the need for what we are trying to do becomes paramount.

• 70% of all babies are born to single women
• 63% of youth suicides come from fatherless homes
• 85% of all youth in prison grow up in fatherless homes
• 50% dropout rate for all ethnic groups
• Girls from fatherless homes are more likely to become teenage mothers
• 77% of dropouts come from fatherless homes