On Chicago’s Morning Answer, education leader and author Ian Rowe joined Dan Proft and Amy Jacobson for a timely discussion on the role of fathers in child development, the consequences of broken family structures, and the importance of promoting marriage and personal agency—especially in low-income communities.
Rowe, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and founder of Vertex Partnership Academies in the Bronx, spoke about his recent co-authored report, Good Fathers, Flourishing Kids: The Importance of Fatherhood in Virginia. The study, based on data from over 1,300 children, presents compelling evidence that children with engaged fathers fare significantly better across a range of mental health, behavioral, and academic indicators.
The research defines “engaged fatherhood” by simple, measurable behaviors—such as dads who share meals with their families at least four times a week and report confidently handling the demands of parenting. The results are striking: girls with involved fathers are ten times less likely to suffer from depression, and boys are significantly less prone to behavioral issues and school trouble.
The conversation opened with a reference to a Capitol Hill appearance by a struggling single mother used to spotlight the importance of SNAP benefits. But Rowe and the hosts emphasized that deeper questions about family formation—especially the presence or absence of fathers—are too often ignored in public policy debates.
In Virginia, one in four children lives without their biological father, and Rowe pointed to the data showing that family structure plays a larger role in child outcomes than race or income. More than 85% of children from married, intact families—black and white—earn mostly A’s and B’s in school. That figure drops sharply to fewer than two-thirds among children raised in non-married households.
Rowe warned against the rising push to treat all family structures as morally and practically equivalent. Some scholars and advocates argue for policies that decouple fatherhood from marriage entirely, emphasizing child support, family leave, or other technical interventions. Rowe argued that while helpful on the margins, such measures cannot replicate the foundation of a committed, married household.
He explained that marriage isn’t just about two parents living under one roof—it’s about forming a bond between adults before children arrive, creating mutual accountability. Without that bond, Rowe said, children are far more likely to experience what sociologist Kathryn Edin calls the “family-go-round”—a cycle of unstable relationships and fractured parenting that has long-term consequences for child wellbeing.
Rowe emphasized the importance of the “Success Sequence,” a model he promotes in his schools and public talks. The formula—graduate high school, work full-time, then marry before having children—has proven effective. According to the Brookings Institution, 97% of young people who follow this sequence avoid poverty.
The conversation also explored cultural shifts. Rowe advocated for public service campaigns targeting young men, promoting fatherhood, marriage, and the dignity of work. Drawing on his earlier career at MTV, where he oversaw social impact initiatives like the anti-smoking “Truth” campaign and teen pregnancy awareness efforts, he called for a broader cultural movement to reinforce the values of stability, commitment, and personal responsibility.
Though Rowe’s comments were timely ahead of Father’s Day, the implications are far-reaching. His message was clear: America cannot afford to sidestep the conversation about family structure. If the nation is serious about helping the next generation escape poverty and thrive, then promoting engaged, married fatherhood must be at the center of that mission.
Rowe’s report, co-authored with a diverse team of scholars from institutions including AEI, Brookings, and Hampton University, offers a roadmap. But as he noted, the first step is having the courage to speak honestly about what children truly need—and what too many are missing.