FEDERAL RESPONsIBLE FATHERHOOD GRANT: NEW BEGINNINGS FOR NEW FATHERS

1. FEDERAL RESPONsIBLE FATHERHOOD GRANT: NEW BEGINNINGS FOR NEW FATHERS

2. NEW BEGINNINGS FOR NEW FATHERS • OCF awarded $10 million five year grant (Oct 2015- Sept 2020) • Serve 1,000 fathers per year • Partnering with experienced fatherhood programs in five counties: Franklin (Columbus), Clark, Cuyahoga (Cleveland), Hamilton (Cincinnati) and Montgomery (Dayton) • These partners will carry out all direct services with fathers designed to increase job readiness and employment, improve parenting skills and strengthen family resiliency

4. Target Population • Expectant and New Low-Income Fathers with at least one child under age one • AND Young Fathers, ages 16 to 24 • Proactive Approach: Breaking the cycle of father absence • Impact on Reducing Infant Mortality by increasing protective factors in healthy fathering behaviors (supporting breastfeeding, safe sleep practices, involvement in prenatal care, and reducing smoking)

5. POVERTY

6. Clark and Cuyahoga counties have non-marital birth rates higher than the state rate. In 2014, babies born in the five targeted counties accounted for 53 percent all births in Ohio (73,319). NON-MARITAL BIRTHS

7. Infant Mortality Ohio has one of the worst infant mortality rates in the nation. 2011 Ohio’s infant mortality rate was 7.9 infant deaths per 1,000 live births compared to 6.1 nationally. Four out of five counties chosen for this project have some of the highest rates in Ohio. Throughout the state and nation, black baby deaths are disproportionately higher.

8. The target population was selected based on substantial research showing that the months surrounding the child’s birth are a window of opportunity during which fathers are most receptive to support and behavior change. Father involvement during this “magic moment” can lead to: • improved maternal and infant health • increased father-child bonding and attachment • stronger co-parenting relationships between mothers and fathers • establishment of a foundation for the development of nurturing fathers • and increased positive father involvement throughout the life of the child pregnancy, childbirth &infancy

9. New Beginnings for New Fathers • Funds will be used to support and integrate all three authorized activities: • Responsible Parenting • Economic Stability • Healthy Marriage and Relationship Education

10. Healthy Start programs: Referral of expectant parents and new unmarried fathers and mothers Birthing Hospitals: Referral of expectant and new parents in childbirth education classes and at birth Help Me Grow: Referral of all new unmarried parents and expectant parents Child Support Agencies: Referral of unmarried parents at time of paternity establishment in hospital or DNA testing Departments of Job & Family Services: Referral of unmarried new parents who apply for benefits Corrections: Referral of expectant, new and young fathers in DYS, DRC and local correctional facilities Departments of Children and Family Services: Referral of parents in case plans Program Evaluators: Ohio University, Mathematica & MDRC tracking performance and outcome measures Lead Agency: Ohio Commission on Fatherhood 2: Cuyahoga Lead Agency: Passages 1: Hamilton Lead Agency: Talbert House 3: Franklin Lead Agency: Action for Children 4: Montgomery/Clark Lead Agency: Urban Light Ministries Lead Agency Programming: (the following programming will be provided by lead agencies or subcontractors in each county) • Responsible Fatherhood • Curricula (Boot Camp for New Dads, On My Shoulders, Love Notes, Breast for Success) • Domestic violence awareness education • Healthy Relationships • Relationship Skills Curricula (On My Shoulders, Love Notes, PATTHS for Dads) • Domestic violence awareness education • Economic Stability • Financial Education • Job Readiness, Placement and Subsidized Employment Collaboration with County Agencies: Child Support – lead agencies and subcontractors will collaborative with their county child support agencies to help families navigate the child support system (support order establishment, modification, waiver/compromise, payment, etc) Parenting Time – lead agencies and subcontractors will collaborate with their county child support agencies and juvenile courts to assist unmarried parents in establishing parenting time orders or shared parenting plans

11. Fatherhood workshops using “On My Shoulders” and “Love Notes” curricula; Workshops for Expectant and New Dads using “Boot Camp for New Dads” and “Breast for Success” Domestic Violence education using “Being Connected” Healthy Sexuality information using “PATTHS for Dads” (Parents Are Teaching and Talking about Healthy Sexuality) Financial Education using “Smart Money” curriculum Work Readiness assessment for all fathers GED preparation and tests to fathers who did not complete high school What Fathers will receive

12. By acting proactively rather than trying to engage fathers after they have become disengaged and often estranged from their children and partners, OCF seeks to break the cycle of father absence by providing new and expectant fathers with the tools and support they need to become and remain responsible fathers New Beginnings for New Fathers

13. Community partners

14. Timeline – year 1

15. Timeline years 2-5

16. ANTICIPATED OUTCOMES