“An essential deep dive into absentee fatherhood and the power of showing up for your children.”

About the Book

An essential deep dive into absentee fatherhood, the obstacles and stigmas that exasperate it, the dads who want to reconnect with their children, and what it takes for families to start healing from the co-founder of Fathers’ UpLift

“Dr. Daniels, one of the nation’s foremost experts on fatherhood and healthy families, has written a book that will help all of us show up for the fathers in our lives.”—Michael Wear

Young men of color want to be good dads, but it takes more than a strong will to make that desire a reality. Charles C. Daniels Jr., PhD, a therapist and the co-founder and CEO of Fathers’ UpLift, an organization that helps fathers reconnect with their kids, learned firsthand while serving primarily Black and Brown men that it’s possible for fathers to overcome the significant challenges to establishing a relationship with their kids after weeks, months, or even years of separation.

Present is an honest look at the complexities that accompany separation and the sometimes grueling effort it takes to overcome those barriers. Drawing on therapeutic practice and the experiences of thousands, Daniels describes what it takes for fathers to parent themselves, for families to practice forgiveness, and for fathers and communities to create support structures so that dads can navigate life transitions, relate better to the whole family, and heal from their own woundedness.

Daniels details systemic obstacles that disadvantage fathers and societal stigmas that make healing relationships with children challenging. But he shows that they aren’t the end of the story; it’s still possible to reestablish familial bonds. For young men and those who support them, and for those who are interested in the struggles these men and their children face, Present is a book of challenge and of hope, filled with stories from Daniels’s own life and the lives of the fathers he serves.

 

 

 

 

Why This Book Matters

Father Absence: Statistics & Societal Impact

• Nearly 1 in 4 children in the United States, about 17 million, live without a father in the home.
• Children who grow up without engaged fathers face higher risks of poverty, mental health challenges, lower academic achievement, and an even greater likelihood of criminal justice involvement.
• Girls raised without fathers are more likely to experience teen pregnancy, while boys are more likely to struggle academically or become absent fathers themselves, perpetuating a cycle.

Emotional & Psychological Challenges for Fathers

• Many fathers, especially young men of color, want to be present but encounter major barriers such as a lack of role models, stigma, legal hurdles, or mental health issues.
• Guilt and shame from past mistakes or periods of absence can discourage fathers from reconnecting.
• Limited father-focused services mean many dads aren’t receiving the support they need to heal from trauma, build emotional resilience, or navigate co-parenting.

How PRESENT & Fathers’ UpLift Help

• In Present, Dr. Daniels explains how fathers can address personal wounds, practice forgiveness in their families, and break cycles of absenteeism.
• Drawing on real-life stories, the book provides hope that no matter how much time has passed, it’s still possible to repair father-child relationships.
• Fathers’ UpLift puts these principles into action by offering counseling, coaching, and advocacy, empowering fathers to overcome barriers and re-engage in their children’s lives.

By spotlighting the realities of father absence and offering tangible solutions, Present not only benefits dads, but also helps strengthen families and entire communities.