Fatherless in Tennessee: Why This Crisis Demands Our Attention

June is a good time to celebrate family, summer, and especially Father’s Day, which began in 1910 when Sonora Smart Dodd of Spokane, Washington, proposed a day to honor fathers after being raised by her widowed father. It took decades before Father’s Day became a permanent national holiday in 1972.

That history matters because fatherhood matters. America is facing a fatherless crisis: nearly one in four children grow up without their father at home, and research links father absence to higher risks of incarceration, addiction, teen depression, and youth suicide. Father involvement is also one of the strongest factors in reducing teen pregnancy.

The cost is not just personal but public. A 2026 update found the federal government spent $154.2 billion in a single year on assistance tied to father-absent households. By contrast, children with involved fathers tend to do better in school, show fewer behavioral problems, and enjoy stronger lives.

Tennessee should pay attention too. The Badger Institute’s analysis says Tennessee ranks 28th among states and Washington, D.C., for single-parent households with children, at 22.5%. That is why I have sponsored HJR 131 and HJR 179 in the Tennessee General Assembly—to keep fatherhood, family stability, and child well-being at the center of the conversation.

Each year, U.S. judges issue an estimated 2 to 3 million temporary restraining orders, with roughly 85% directed at men. Many believe a significant share are used strategically in divorce and custody disputes—what some call the “gamesmanship of divorce.” But the consequences are far from a game, especially for fathers separated from their children.
America has a fatherless crisis. Nearly one in four children grow up without their father in the home, and the consequences are well documented. Studies link father absence to higher rates of incarceration, addiction, teen depression, and youth suicide. Father involvement is one of the strongest known factors in lowering teen pregnancy rates.
It isn’t just social—it’s economic. A 2026 update from the National Fatherhood Initiative estimates the federal government spends $154.2 billion annually on assistance tied to father-absent households. The flip side is just as clear: children with involved fathers perform better in school, exhibit fewer behavioral problems, and experience stronger long-term health outcomes. A father’s presence is not a bonus—it is a public health intervention, which is why I have sponsored HJR 131 and HJR 179 in the Tennessee General Assembly.
Before addressing crime, poverty, or mental health, we must confront this deeper issue. Nearly 18 million American children are growing up without a father at home, and that number is expected to rise.
Tennessee is not immune. In fact, it may surprise many that our state ranks among the worst for father absence. According to the Badger Institute, Tennessee ranks 28th among states and Washington, D.C., with 22.5% of children living in single-parent households. Yet, this crisis receives little attention. I would argue this is one of the most critical issues facing both our state and our nation. While roughly 330 lobbyists operate in Nashville—some earning more than the legislators themselves—this foundational issue affecting our children and communities is too often overlooked.
Research consistently shows that fatherlessness is a strong predictor of crime and instability. Boys without fathers are far more likely to engage in delinquency, and a large majority of incarcerated youth come from fatherless homes. Studies also link absent fathers to higher rates of violence, teen pregnancy, and school dropout—costing taxpayers billions each year.
Mental health outcomes are equally troubling. Children without fathers face higher risks of substance abuse, behavioral disorders, and suicide. Most children with serious behavioral challenges come from single-parent homes.
Despite decades of evidence, cultural and legal trends often minimize the importance of fatherhood. Family court systems can, at times, incentivize conflict rather than fairness, allowing tactics that separate fathers from their children without long-term accountability.
Denying a child the presence of a loving father limits that child’s potential. Strengthening and supporting fatherhood is not optional—it is essential to building healthier families, stronger communities, and a more stable nation.

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By JOHN BLASE

God’s Word clearly indicates that fathers bring power to the parenting relationship.