Across Los Angeles County, an estimated 13,000 to 18,000 fathers receive CalWORKs benefits, with approximately 5,000 to 8,000 actively participating in the GAIN Welfare-to-Work program. Behind these numbers are fathers working to overcome barriers such as unemployment, limited education, financial hardship, and life transitions, all while striving to build a more stable future for their families.
At LACOE’s GAIN Division, we witness this determination every day. Fathers come to our programs seeking employment, education, and opportunity, but they often leave with something even greater: renewed confidence, stronger career skills, and a deeper belief in what is possible for themselves and their children.
Meaningful employment is about more than earning a paycheck. It provides stability at home, opens doors to new opportunities, and demonstrates the values of resilience, responsibility, and perseverance. Every interview attended, certification earned, and career milestone achieved becomes part of a father’s legacy, one that his children will remember long after the moment has passed.
Legacy is often measured by what we leave behind, but for many fathers, legacy is built through the lives they shape every day. It is found in the sacrifices they make for their children, the values they model, and the determination to create opportunities that extend far beyond themselves.
This month, we honor the fathers who continue showing up, pushing forward, and choosing hope despite life’s challenges. Their journeys remind us that legacy is not defined by where someone begins, but by the example they set and the future they help create. At GAIN, we are proud to stand beside them because when fathers succeed, families grow stronger, and stronger families build stronger communities.
“A good father is one of the most unsung, unpraised, unnoticed, and yet one of the most valuable assets in our society.” -Billy Graham.
By Dr. Shay Bevans | LACOE CDP Specialist