12 years ago NBC News produced "Labor Day," an award-winning documentary about the alarming rise of inner city children growing up without fathers. It began with the deliveries of three babies born over a 72-hour period at University Hospital in Newark, New Jersey, one of the places where the rate of absentee fathers was especially high. These fathers all made promises to be there with for their child as he or she grew up.

Now, MSNBC has gone back to find out whether these three fathers kept that promise. "A Father's Promise" premieres on Sunday, February 8 at 8 PM ET on MSNBC. Also in the documentary, a cross-section of African-Americans, including NBC's Al Roker and Tiki Barber, come together for a round-table discussion of the situations and issues presented in the program. You can check out some extra clips of the roundtable discussion that you won't get to see in the documentary through this link.

You can watch the original documentary, 'Labor Day,' here.

Associate Producer Jana Lerner has posted a blog entry for comments. For the most part responses have been along these comments penned by Kenneth Braswell with the New York State Fatherhood Initiative:

There are too many shows highlighting particularly "Black" Fathers as mostly "America's Biggest Problem." There is a growing grassroots effort here in New York that has mostly gone unnoticed by our own media. In fact, New York is at the forefront of the Responsible Fatherhood Movement to help address the multiple issues that fathers faced in a society where the economy is placing critical burdens on Fathers, Mothers and Children. There needs to be a connection between these kinds of shows and the people doing the work on the ground. It is great that celebrities are beginning to talk more about this issue, but it does nobody any good if they continue to have these conversations in isolation of those who struggle to be noticed for providing services to fathers and organizations who find it hard to identify financial support and resources. We need to find a way to allow the triumph of fatherhood be an example in turning around the tragic tide of fatherlessness.

I agree with Ken – too many dads have not kept their promises but we live in exciting times when more and more services are being provided to help dads be there for their kids despite the barriers.

Follow this link for Information on funding opportunities for fatherwork in Colorado.