State Senator Gary LeBeau
June 26, 2008
LeBeau, Representative Morris Named Co-chairs of Task Force to Study Causes of Fatherlessness
New group charged with exploring the causes and possible legislative solutions to fatherless families in Connecticut
State Sen. Gary D. LeBeau (D-East Hartford) has been appointed co-chairman of a new legislative task force designed to explore the root causes of, and possible legislative solutions to, fatherless families in Connecticut.
Speaker of the House James A. Amann (D-Milford) today announced the creation of a new 12-member task force to be co-chaired by Sen. LeBeau and state Rep. Bruce Morris (D-Norwalk). Also on the panel are state Reps. Kenneth P. Green (D-Hartford) and Faith McMahon (D-Bloomfield).
"Virtually every social problem that we face is exacerbated, if not caused, by this epidemic of fatherlessness and family breakdown," Sen. LeBeau said. "It is imperative that we examine the state's role in the problem."
The task force and its duties are based on a bill that Sen. LeBeau originally introduced which sought the creation of a 12-member task force to examine the impact of public policies in promoting fatherhood versus fatherlessness, and how subsidized programs encourage or discourage childbearing outside of marriage. That bill unanimously passed the Senate in April but was never brought up for a vote in the House.
"All the research indicates that the lack of having a father in the home or involved in a child's life impacts negatively in many ways, including poverty, health, education, teen pregnancy, child abuse, drug and alcohol abuse and other criminal activity," Rep. Morris said. "I would like to take the initiative to support these families by addressing the impact of public policy and how Connecticut's youth are affected." The task force will meet between now and December to solicit comments and information from the public, experts, and other agencies on the causes of fatherlessness, poverty, and other social ills in the state of Connecticut. It will then report and make recommendations to the legislature on ways to decrease fatherlessness.
According to the 2005 U.S. Census:
- Of the 1.32 million family households in Connecticut, 51 percent (675,144) were married-family households, 12.2 percent (161,749) were female-headed family households with no husband present, and 4.26 percent (56,395) were male-headed family households with no wife present. The balance was comprised of 'non-family' households, such as single people, siblings or friends living together.
- Female-headed households were 37.3 percent White (not Hispanic or Latino); 29.3 percent Black; and 28.6 percent Hispanic or Latino (of any race).
- The average size of female-headed households was 3.1, and 66.8 percent had children age 18 or younger. 92.4 percent of those children were enrolled in the public school system.
- The annual median income of female-headed households was $28,385--less than a third of the $94,527 annual median income of married-couple family households and about half of the $52,378 annual median income of male-headed households.
- Female-headed households were 10 times more likely than married-couple family households (3.7 percent versus 35.9 percent) to have received public assistance in the past year (Supplemental Security Income, cash public assistance, food stamps, etc.) and twice as likely as male-headed households (13.5 percent versus 35.9 percent) to have received such support.
(See: http://factfinder.census.gov)
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