DeSantis signs legislation earmarking $70 million to help address ‘fatherlessness crisis’ by Ashley Sadler for Life Site News
‘Incredibly, there are those who diminish the importance of fatherhood and the nuclear family – we will not let that happen in our state,’ said Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.
Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis legislation Monday to earmark almost $70 million in spending to “encourage responsible and involved fatherhood in Florida” amid what he called a “fatherlessness crisis.”
“Today’s $70 million investment will fund programs to support fathers and help families stay connected and engaged with each other,” DeSantis, the father of three young children, said in a Monday tweet highlighting the new measure.
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“Our state, communities and families are better when fathers are involved,” he added.
Today’s $70 million investment will fund programs to support fathers and help families stay connected and engaged with each other.
Our state, communities and families are better when fathers are involved. pic.twitter.com/r6U7DPmNSJ
— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) April 11, 2022
CBS Miami reported that the measure, HB 7065, had earned bipartisan support and passed unanimously in the House and Senate before reaching the governor’s desk for a signature.
According to a Monday press release put out by the Florida governor’s office, the bill will allot the nearly $70 million for “educational programs, mentorship programs, and one-on-one support to encourage responsible and involved fatherhood in Florida.”
The programs will be effectuated via Florida’s Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) and the state’s Department of Children and Families (DCF).
Among the primary provisions of the new legislation is the support and creation of mentorship programs at the DJJ for Florida youth considered at-risk.
“For many of these youth, their mentor may be the closest thing they have to a father,” the press release stated. “DJJ also hosts and supports programs for involved fatherhood, including barbershop talks and fatherhood classes.”
Additionally, the DCF will launch “a statewide awareness campaign to call attention to the importance of responsible fatherhood, and to equip fathers with resources to stay engaged in their children’s lives.”
