Fathers Play Crucial Role in Their Daughters' Lives

Award-winning Street Positive, a division of 4Positive Knowledge, has launched a new social engagement campaign promoting the importance of healthy father/daughter relationships in the development of young girls to women who are positive role models and contributors to their community. The "Daughters Lives Matter" campaign was created through a careful selection of fatherhood and teen girl mentoring programs taking aim at prevention and early intervention to help young girls navigate the destructive effects associated with child maltreatment, including father abandonment, sex trafficking, dating violence, bullying, and drug and alcohol abuse. “Fathers and father figures play a crucial role in the development of emotionally healthy children,” said Terry Boykins, CEO of Street Positive. “Increasing awareness about the importance of healthy father/daughter relationships is critical in the effort to significantly minimize the challenges many young girls face. We know that girls close to their fathers exhibit less anxiety and are less withdrawn. Further research has revealed that seventy-six percent of teen girls stated that their fathers had a direct influence on whether they would become sexually active. ‘Daughters Lives Matter’ is dedicated to preventing the victimization of all young girls across this country,” said Boykins. As part of the campaign, a tribute to fathers and daughters will take place Saturday, Sept. 19 at Fiesta Village Family Fun Park in Colton. The event will feature prize giveaways, presentations, and entertainment, including a live performance by Sol Knopf, a singer/songwriter from Delaware. His moving song (co-written with Geri Smith) and YouTube video "My Baby Girl" has been touching lives all over the world; it has become one of the most requested father/daughter dance songs across the United States and abroad. The event starts at 10 a.m. Individuals and families are welcome. Tickets are $14.95 and may be purchased online at StreetPositive.com.