A recent news story by Chicago’s WGN9 is titled “Illinois is Failing Children of Color.”

It examines  “Race for Results” –a report from the Annie E. Casey Foundation which found that children of color face several “inequities” in Illinois.

It is important to examine why children of color are particularly hurting in the state of Illinois. However, if children of color are failing, why is it assumed that the state of Illinois is responsible for these inequities?

Instead of uncaringly and un-empathetically looking at these children and assuming that 1) it’s ultimately the state of Illinois’s fault that they are hurting and 2) it is up to the state of Illinois to fix it, maybe instead we should look at these children as human beings who need and depend on their moms and dads to provide for them and take care of them.

Therefore, the government of Illinois should stop assuming that they can rescue children of color. Instead, they should encourage Illinois residents to support non-profit organizations and ministries who equip parents to provide and care for their children.

After all, government bureaucrats cannot provide the love and support that a child’s own mother and father can provide.

One crucial factor that pulls children out of and even prevents poverty, drug addiction, and violence is an in-tact, loving family –in which children are raised by their mother and father. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, more than 18 million children, or one in four, grow up without their dad.

The United States has the highest rate of children living in single-parent households among any country in the world. For black children, the number who grow up in single-parent homes is roughly six million — or 64% of the total population of black children.

Thankfully, selfless men that take seriously Jesus’s command to love God and love your neighbor, former NFL player, Jack Brewer, and former NFL coach and analyst, Tony Dungy, are calling on men to step up and raise their children so that they have a much higher likelihood of receiving quality education, stay out of gangs, resist drugs, and avoid poverty. According to its website,

The Jack Brewer Foundation believes that the only way to combat America’s Fatherhood Crisis is for biblical truth to return as the foundation of our nation’s institutions. The spiritual battle to defend the fatherless includes a comprehensive approach that is dedicated to addressing the root causes that are perpetuating a demonic culture.

This spiritual battle must be led by our nation’s men of God; 1. boldly demanding the prioritization of serving the 5 million plus fatherless males impacted by the criminal justice system; 2. selflessly mentoring America’s 18.5 million fatherless children, 3. enforcing a culture shift to embrace the 10 commandments while advocating for legislators to implement policies that empower fathers, families and the fatherless.

The foundation’s Heroes 2nd Chance Fatherhood Initiative combines disciplined faith and character curriculum, child support restitution planning, job preparation and placement, parenting training, mental health and substance abuse rehabilitation, active community service and mentorship programs, dignity enhancement resources as well as faith driven sports and nutrition programs which have all proven to empower various fatherless populations in America and abroad.

Tony Dungy’s All Pro Dad is “a group of people passionately committed to bringing intentional focus to fathers around the world.” They provide dads with guidance and practical tips in raising their kids in a life-giving way:

• They offer daily powerful and practical fatherhood tips.
• Through All Pro Dad local chapters, they provide an opportunity for dads to spend quality time with their children before school to strengthen their relationship. One day a month, other dads and their kids meet together and walk through different topics that invoke meaningful conversations.
• Since 2004, the All Pro Dad Experience has been held over 125 times in more than 30 different NFL, MLB, and NCAA markets.​ The All Pro Dad Experience is held at the team’s practice facility or stadium. During the three-hour event, dads and kids rotate through stations and participate in interactive games designed to strengthen their relationships and deliver useful fatherhood tips.

Finally, Family Research Council created a Stand Courageous ministry. Stand Courageous seeks to help men develop a strong biblical character, cultivate positive habits, build and rebuild relationships, and make commitments that will move men closer to God’s good purpose and design.

They have conferences to discuss critical aspects of masculinity and are led by men who will invest in unpacking their role as a defender, provider, instructor, and battle buddy so that they can have the generational influence as a “chaplain” inside and outside the home.

These are three non-profit organizations that are doing tremendous work to equip parents and strengthen families. So instead of blaming “Illinois” for “failing children of color,” let’s support these and similar groups.

By doing so, we can transform our culture by restoring the responsibility of providing for children to those whom God intended since creation: moms and dads.