Only about 50 percent of American children will spend their entire childhood in a two-parent family.
Statistics like that are why the Ohio Fatherhood Summit is growing each year- and why organizers say the effort to reach out to young fathers is more critical each day.
Al Grimes is Director of Cuyahoga County's Fatherhood Initiative.
AL GRIMES: "All of the research tells us that when a father is involved in his child's life, that they live a more productive and positive life."
Supporting agencies from across the state are involved in this fifth annual fathers convention, and it's expected to have record attendance. Seminars and presentations have been going on since Wednesday, with a goal of increasing the involvement of dads; young and old, in their kids lives.
Nick Smith came from Dayton.
He says the experience will make him a better father as he applies what he's heard and what he's learned.
NICK SMITH: "One child at a time. I go back home to my own son and my three daughters and let them know what the experience brought to me."
It's a message he hopes to spread.
