Advocate for C.H.A.N.G.E. Jamaica Limited has at its core a mission to eradicate father absenteeism and the prevalent and devastating effects its has on health, economy, psychology and security, through strategic advocative efforts, and the offering of support thus lessening the effects of father absenteeism and bridging the gaps in creating a sustainable environment for Jamaican citizens.

The gravamen for the entity’s existence are the effects of father absenteeism. Psychology Today recorded that as a result of father absenteeism, there exists:

a. children’s diminished self-concept, and compromised physical and emotional security (children consistently report feeling abandoned when their fathers are not involved in their lives, struggling with their emotions and episodic bouts of self-loathing)

b. behavioral problems (fatherless children have more difficulties with social adjustment, and are more likely to report problems with friendships, and manifest behavior problems; manydevelop a swaggering, intimidating persona in an attempt to disguise their underlying fears, resentments, anxieties and unhappiness)

c. delinquency and youth crime, including violent crime (85 percent of youth in prison have an absent father; fatherless children are more likely to offend and go to jail as adults)

d. exploitation and abuse (fatherless children are at greater risk of suffering physical, emotional, and sexual abuse, being five times more likely to have experienced physical abuse and emotional maltreatment, with a one hundred times higher risk of fatal abuse; a recent study reported that preschoolers not living with both of their biological parents are 40 times more likely to be sexually abused)

Consequently, the following objects were established:

A. To raise awareness for the father epidemic;

B. To advocate for the health, economic, security and the psychological wellbeing of individuals who are homeless, fatherless, adolescents, abused and victims and perpetrators of crime and abused through advocacy and to utilize same and any other means which will further the mission;

C. To develop a mentor-mentee database that will provide access to guidance and support in the absence of fathers;

D. To solicit, accept and use contributions of funds and other property for the support of the objects described above;

E. To liaise, collaborate with or to conduct exchange programmes with local and international bodies, organization or institutions having similar or compatible interest described in the objects set out above.

It is reported that 85% of at-risks youths are fatherless and these fatherless children sometimes because absent fathers. We want to end this by providing them with an alternative that will help themselves and their family.