Breaking the Cycle
Leading the Nation
Florida Champions Fatherhood
There are certain moments in life when you realize you’re part of something much bigger than yourself. One of those moments for me came in 2021 when I was invited to the Florida Capitol by Speaker Chris Sprowls. I stood outside at the podium with 40 legislators, speaking about the importance of fatherhood and the work Man Up and Go was doing to support it. And then, right after that, they went inside and voted unanimously—117 to 0—to pass House Bill 7065.
Everyone in that room, regardless of background or political affiliation, agreed: fathers matter.
But how did we get here?
When Chris Sprowls took office, he vowed to do something about the crisis of fatherlessness in Florida. He didn’t just talk about it—he made it happen. House Bill 7065, now known as the Fatherhood Bill, became the first of its kind in the nation: a state-funded initiative pouring $70 million into fatherhood programs. And we at Man Up and Go were blessed to play a small part in shaping it.
The statistics are undeniable. Father absence is a direct factor in nearly every social crisis we face. Kids without dads at home are more likely to drop out of school, suffer from mental health issues, face incarceration, and struggle with poverty. The data doesn’t just suggest a correlation; it shows a direct causal link. When a father isn’t present, the risk factors for children skyrocket.
The Fatherhood Bill set out to change that by funding three key areas:
Awareness Campaigns – The bill provided funding for a statewide campaign to elevate the conversation around fatherhood. It might seem like just marketing, but awareness matters. The more we talk about it, the more communities engage.
Foster Care Engagement – Florida now employs Fatherhood Engagement Specialists to actively reconnect fathers with their children in the foster care system. In many cases, fathers have been a forgotten entity in child welfare discussions, and this initiative ensures they have a seat at the table. Man Up and Go serves as the Specialists in several counties throughout Florida.
Nonprofit Support –We were also able to apply for state grants to expand their impact. We spent 80-hour weeks writing an 87-page grant proposal, and we were awarded funding to do what we do best: mentor, support, and equip fathers.
Just last week, during a DCF audit, one of their auditors—a single mother—listened to our dads share their testimonies and was brought to tears. She admitted she wished she had access to this kind of support when raising her own children. And that’s what this bill is about—breaking the generational cycle of fatherlessness.
Be well,
Jeff Ford