Importance of fathers; importance of mothers

Iconic image of St. Augustine of Hippo

"All his hopes, however, were suddenly threatened by the death of his father."  Reference to St. Augustine at the death of his father, in "St. Augustine Against the Academics"

I watched a PBS special on frogs last night, and it was amazing how some species of father frogs watch over and protect eggs until they are able to survive on their own as tadpoles.

This is the way of nature, and human fathers who die untimely deaths, are living in prisons, or are absent from their children's lives because of neglect, distance, or anger towards the mother are putting their offsprings in precarious positions, in non-survival mode.

That is why there should be an all out effort to make sure fathers are healthy, employed, and on the scene as nurturers in families. Mothers are also important in the family unit. And for same sex partnerships, the same goes.

How does society protect fathers, mothers, and in all respects the family unit in 2012?

Please comment.

Picture from http://fatherhollywood.blogspot.com/2011/08/sermon-st-augustine-2011.html