Fatherhood Program
Every Child Deserves an Engaged Father
Meet our Fatherhood Director, Anton
My name is P. Anton Jackson, and I’m the Fatherhood Director at Ottawa County Pregnancy Services. This community means a lot to me; I grew up right here in Port Clinton in a single-parent home with my mother and little sister. My mother worked multiple jobs to give my sister and I everything we needed. But growing up without a healthy example of what it meant to be a man — without a father to teach, guide, and model responsibility — left an emptiness that I did not fully understand until I became a father myself.
When I first became a father, I was clueless. I did not know what a father was supposed to be, and I had to learn along the way. But I made one promise: I would never abandon my children.
That promise is why the Ottawa County Pregnancy Services Fatherhood Program exists today.
Why Fathers Matter
The research is clear:
- Infant deaths within the first 28 days are 4x higher when a father is absent
- When a mother sees an ultrasound alone, she is 87% likely to carry to term — with the father present, that jumps to 97%
- 18.3 million children in America are growing up without their dad in the home
- Children without fathers are:
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- 4x more likely to live in poverty
- 2x more likely to die by suicide
- At greater risk of substance abuse
- 71% of high school dropouts come from fatherless homes
Behind every statistic is a child who needs stability. A mother carrying the burden alone. A man who wants to show up — but was never shown how.
What We Do
We equip men in Ottawa County and surrounding areas to become confident, engaged fathers through:
- Parenting education
- Mentorship
- Practical life skills training
- Support during pregnancy and beyond
- Group workshops
We exist to help fathers break generational cycles and build a different future for their children.
You Can Help Change His Story
When you invest in our program, you are not only funding classes — you are helping a father stay present, you are strengthening families, and you are shaping the next generation. Your gift today helps ensure that more children grow up with a father who is present, equipped, and committed.
Pray
Praying for each and every male client that walk in our doors
Give a DadBag
These bags are designed for the -on the go father- who desires a more masculine bag to make them feel comfortable while on the go with their littles
Volunteer
Volunteering to make a difference in our community with your time.
Learn more about Care Net’s Fatherhood Program.
#1 - Fathers are valuable to God.
Roland points out that, even a quick read of Scripture will show you that fathers are valuable to God. One reason specifically stands out. Roland reminds us of the birth of Jesus. After God sent an angel to Mary letting her know she would give birth to Christ, God also sent the angel to Joseph, letting him know to be a husband to Mary and a father to Jesus. God set the example here. He showed the importance of marriage and fatherhood with the birth of Jesus.
#2 - Fathers are highly influential in their partners’ pregnancy decision.
We know from research, even our national surveys, that women who have had an abortion (and men whose partners had abortions) both list the father of the unborn child as the most influential factor in the abortion decision.
#3 - Fathers are vital to the well-being of children and families.
Children with involved fathers, and as Roland further explains, ideally married to the mothers of their children, do better across every measurement of child well-being when compared to children in father-absent homes.