The Louisiana Legislature has established the Task Force on Fatherhood Engagement to explore ways to enhance father involvement in the lives of children across the state. This initiative comes in response to Louisiana's concerning statistics regarding out-of-wedlock births, single-parent households, and low rankings in father engagement within child welfare systems. The task force aims to research best practices and develop actionable recommendations for state agencies to promote father inclusion, recognizing the significant benefits of paternal involvement on children's development and family dynamics.

The task force will consist of various stakeholders, including state agency representatives and fatherhood-focused organizations, and is tasked with generating a comprehensive report by February 28, 2026. Their responsibilities include researching effective strategies for increasing father engagement, proposing necessary policy changes, and identifying funding sources to support fatherhood programs. The task force will convene its first meeting by August 31, 2025, and will operate without state administrative costs, relying on support from a designated non-governmental entity.