Welcome to Strong Start for Cuyahoga’s Families

1. Welcome to StrongStartfor Cuyahoga’s Families Luis Vazquez, Program Director Christian Tobin, Program Manager Charmaine Pope, Career Coach Teresa Martin, Administrative Assistant

2. Objectives for today: Public Awareness of Strong Start for Cuyahoga’s Families program for key stakeholders within Cuyahoga County Dispel myths of Healthy Marriage Demonstration Grant To establish functional relationships as a resource for your agency

3. What is Strong Start for Cuyahoga’s Families program? • Cuyahoga County was selected and awarded a 5 year grant under the Federal Healthy Marriage Demonstration Grant. • Approximately 225 grantees were selected from over 1700 applicants. • The grant project period is 9/30/06-9/29/11. We are currently in FY3 of the grant. • Cuyahoga County was awarded $530,730.00 annually for the 5 year grant period (approximately 2.6 million total)

4. What is Strong Start for Cuyahoga’s Families program?(continued) • A voluntary program that is designed to offer a “one-stop” experience of family support, relationship education and resources for couples. • The Strong Start programming is also offered in a linguistic and culturally supportive format under our Latino Family track. • Couples who participate in the program will be provided with tools needed to enhance the life of their child(ren). • The core curriculum is entitled “Better Together” and uses general principles to help the couples build or re-establish healthy interaction, communication and implement productive parenting techniques.

5. What benefits and services are provided? • Couples enjoy a weekly “night out” with dinner, childcare and transportation accommodations. (Classes are held 1 night per week for 12 weeks.) • An opportunity for the couple to enhance communications with one another and their child(ren). • Training on techniques to enhance conflict resolution. • Techniques to enhance the ability to work together as parenting partners to meet the developmental needs of the child(ren). • Financial management education. • Assistance/support with job readiness, employment search, career advancement and occupational skills training services.

6. What are the requirements? • Under the grant we agreed to serve unmarried couples living in Cuyahoga County who are either expecting parents or have a child that is 3 months old or younger. • The couples do NOT have to live in the same household. In any case, the couples CANNOT be married when they enroll. • The couples must be at or below 150% of the current Federal Poverty Level Guidelines. (This is verified during the intake stage.)

7. Strong Start for Cuyahoga’s Families Staff: • Project Director, Luis Vazquez • Program Manager, Christian Tobin • Career Coach/Case Manager, Charmaine Pope • Administrative Assistant, Teresa Martin

8. Our Site Locations • Harvard Community Center • Hispanic UMADAOP & Spanish American Committee • Lexington-Bell Community Center • May Dugan Center • University Settlement

9. MomsFirst: Referral of expectant parents (City of Cleveland Department of Public Health program) Birthing Hospitals:Referral of expectant and new parents in childbirth education classes and at birth (MetroHealth Hospitals & University Hospitals of Cleveland) Help Me Grow of Cuyahoga County: Referral of all new unmarried parents and expectant parents Cuyahoga County Support Enforcement Agency: Referral of unmarried parents at time of paternity establishment in hospital or DNA testing Department of Employment and Family Services: Referral of unmarried parents who apply for benefits Department of Children and Family Services: Referral of parents in case plans YOUR AGENCY Will be listed here Cuyahoga County Fatherhood Initiative: Public Awareness Support & Referral Partner Lead Agency: Cuyahoga County Executive Office of Health and Human Services Strong Start for Cuyahoga’s Families 211/First Call for Help: Enhanced Information and Referral/ Resource System Navigation and Coaching 1: Lexington -Bell Community Center 2: Harvard Community Services Center 3: University Settlement 4: May Dugan Center 5: HUMADAOP/ Spanish American Committee Strong Start Programming: (Targeting 35 couples during each program year at each site: 1-4) Relationship Education/Skills – Better Together, Center for Families and Children Responsible Parenting Parenting Education – Cuyahoga County Board of Health Conflict Resolution in Relationships – Domestic Violence Center Domestic Violence/Child Abuse Prevention – Domestic Violence Center, CCBH Economic Stability Financial Education – KeyBank Financial Education Center Subsidized Job Training & Employment – Employment Connection Follow-up by Program Sites Strong Start Latino Family Track: (Targeting 35 couples at HUMADAOP/ Spanish American Committee during each program year.) Relationship Education/Skills – Better Together,HUMADAOP Responsible Parenting Parenting Education Conflict Resolution in Relationships Domestic Violence/Child Abuse Prevention Economic Stability: Financial Education Subsidized Job Training & Employment Follow-up by Program Sites Strong Start for Cuyahoga’s Families Program Design

10. Current Referral Info • All of our referring partner agencies, Invest In Children and NEON Health Centers. • “Reverse referrals” from the 5 program sites. • Our families come from all over Cuyahoga County. However, the top 5 cities of residence for our participants are Cleveland, Euclid, East Cleveland, Cleveland Heights and Maple Heights. • The age range of interested participants currently is 17-34.

11. How are referrals made? • Our media efforts indicate contact should begin by calling United Way’s First Call for Help at 211 or 216-436-2000. • Many agencies prefer to have a paper referral form, which we’ve included in your packet and will be glad to send to you electronically. These should be faxed to our office at 216-443-7276

12. Dispelling the myths: • The Healthy Marriage Demonstration Grant is not about performing marriage ceremonies. • We do focus on enhancing pivotal aspects of the relationship. • We do promote strengthening the overall family unit through healthy relationships. • We do promote couples being able to model healthy relationships for the children in their household.

13. How can we be a resource for you? • Over time we have broken down the variables of the formula for our families to be successful. • Most programs focus on helping “mom”. If the parents are married “dad” can receive some supports/benefits. • Many newer programs have been funded to include “dad”. In fact, Cuyahoga County is a leader in “father friendly” service and has an outstanding Fatherhood Initiative providing a plethera of programs and supports. • Strong start tries to pull both parents into the equation to provide them with supports to help build a solid foundational structure in their relationship so that the child(ren) benefit.

14. The observations from FY1 & FY2: • Statistical information • Evaluation Summary • Successful couples

15. We need you! • We need for you to consider the Strong Start for Cuyahoga’s Families program as a resource for the families that you touch. • As a referral partner we will provide you with materials about the program, referral forms and conduct training sessions at each of your sites. • Please have your eligible families call 211 United Way’s First Call for Help and mention “Strong Start” to the Information Specialist. We will do the rest. • If you prefer a paper referral form, please use the one included in your packet and fax it to our office at 216-443-7276.

16. The future of the family unit… • Sustainability of the family unit requires some change in how we do business. We propose that we consider the following: • Open up a track for married couples • Expand the age of children • Expand the program sites for greater convenience and to meet enrollment needs • Strengthen relationships for functionality in supports and resources at all community levels

17. Strong Start Contact Information • Luis Vazquez, Program Director 216-443-7297 • Christian Tobin, Program Manager 216-698-2371 or 216-780-3025 • Charmaine Pope, Career Coach/Case Manager 216-698-2313 or 216-780-3026 • Teresa Martin, Administrative Assistant 216-348-3967