A Dad's Story: How to Show Up and Account for Mistakes

This Father’s Day, we’re celebrating dads like Jesse—men who are willing to do the hard work to build a better future for their children.

Determined to turn his life around, Jesse made the courageous decision to face a seemingly insurmountable list of old fines and outstanding warrants so he could reinstate his driver’s license. For a while, Jesse had been driving on a suspended license just to get to work—but after being pulled over multiple times, he knew something had to change.

That’s when a friend told him about the 100 Families Initiative. With the support of his family advocate, Jennifer, Jesse began the long process of clearing up his legal issues in both Arizona and Arkansas. After paying off his fines, he realized he would need to take the Arkansas driver’s license exam since his original license was from Arizona. Jennifer stepped in again, helping him schedule the test and arranging transportation. Jesse passed both the written and driving portions on his first try.

This victory is about more than just getting his license back—it’s about Jesse being empowered in his role as a dad. Earning his license is a key milestone on his path to becoming the parent he wants to be. Along the way, he’s also secured stable housing and remained committed to spending quality time with his son, consistently attending all scheduled visits. With the support of his DCFS caseworker, who helps provide transportation, Jesse has stayed fully engaged in the reunification process.

This Father’s Day, we honor Jesse’s dedication in overcoming the obstacles in his path and in being present, accountable, and committed for his child. We also celebrate with Jesse as he has recently received news that he can begin trial home placement on June 27th. Jesse is well on his way to reunification with his son.

Jesse's story reminds us that fatherhood isn’t about perfection. It’s about persistence, love, and the willingness to show up—no matter how hard the road.