FATHERHOOD CONNECTIONS PROGRAM LUCAS COUNTY FATHERHOOD CONNECTIONS PROGRAM Helping Fathers Become Better Dads

In the beginning… CSEA JFS Lucas County began the process of legally merging the two agencies and in January 2012 the agencies were officially merged Department of Job & Family Services - Division of Child Support Services Workgroups were formed and began the process of merger integration The national information on Family Centered Innovations improves Child Support outcomes CSEA JFS

LCDJFS identified $300,000 in available TANF funds. Working with our new co-workers we reviewed national research on comprehensive “best practice” approaches that accomplish three core functions: Support child well-being by increasing the economic stability of both the custodial and non-custodial households = employment for the non-custodial father and increase in support payments to the custodial parent Strengthen father-child relationships and the ability of parents who are separated or divorced to co-parent effectively Early intervention – making the difference before the family challenges and support arrearage become insurmountable Following our research we built our program model, conducted a competitive bid and formed an interdisciplinary planning team – JFS, CSEA, LCJC, Public Defenders and Network (our One Stop Operator). After four months of careful planning Fatherhood Connections started in January 2012.

DEMOGRAPHICS – Lucas County Over 2,400 Non Custodial Fathers Over $4million owed in arrears

PROGRAM OVERVIEW Services are individualized and focus on family engagement, employment and economic stability and may include: Skills assessments and development of personal service plan GED preparation Job matching, job development and job search assistance Reuniting fathers with their children by providing the Nurturing Fathers Program and other supportive services and by assisting with visitation through mediation and other legal processes. Modifying child support orders Removes barriers to employment by: Reinstating driver’s license Removing civil warrants Resolving legal issues and linking to needed treatment and intervention services

Program Launched -January 17, 2012 CONNECTIONS WITH OUR PARTNERS Lucas County Juvenile Court: Established a Dedicated Docket for this program and assigned one Magistrate to preside over the Docket. Additional services critical to the project include assigned Defense Attorneys. Lucas County Department of Job & Family Services: Provided $300,000 of TANF funds and managed the procurement process. Additionally, LCDJFS provides ongoing staff support for contract management, program planning and oversight and program evaluation. Division of Child Support: Identified fathers (obligors) who are between the ages of 18-24 years old. CSEA files a motion to show cause for those fathers who meet program criteria and assigns them to the Dedicated Docket. CSEA dedicated an attorney and legal support staff to the project. Recently, Tablet technology, and a dedicated assigned Case Manager have been developed. Network Division of Zepf: Provides comprehensive case management, a comprehensive assessment, development of individualized case plans, employment assistance, and facilitates linkage to needed legal and other services . Center for Hope: Provides the nationally evaluated Nurturing Fathers Program. Program Launched -January 17, 2012

Fatherhood Connections Assist the father to access services in the community that help them meet their fathering responsibilities , while guiding fathers in meeting their child support requirements. Provide the fathers ideas and support on how to be a good father and a positive role model for their children. Provide resume, pre-employment testing and job search assistance. Support the ability of both parents to work together to parent their child(ren).

Fatherhood Connections Services Job Skills Training Job Seeking Skills Job Development Job Readiness Services Basic Skill Development Mentoring Father Nurturing Classes Educational Assistance – College, GED or Tutoring Services Professional Attire /Grooming Family Fun Activities for Dads and their children

Participant demographics 49% High School Diploma 45% No GED or Diploma Average Number of children per father is 3 84% African American 11% White 5% Hispanic Fathers come from zip codes in high poverty areas of Toledo Data is based on 85 unduplicated Fatherhood Connection clients from January 1, 2012 to November 8, 2012

PROJECT ACTIVITY PROJECTED GOALS FATHERHOOD TOTAL 100% *86% 77% 78% Community Referrals 95% of the fathers will be referred to appropriate community resources 100% Nurturing Father’s Program 85% will increase their knowledge and awareness regarding parenting *86% Child Support Contributions 85% of the fathers enrolled will increase their child support payments 77% Job Placement Services 75% of the fathers will secure employment 78% Mentoring and Skill Development 75% of the fathers who spend at least 50 hours in classes or tutoring will increase their test scores and/or obtain a GED These totals are based upon the LCDJFS Performance Measures Form for Grant year FFY 2012 Projected number to be served: 50-75 Fatherhood Connections served a total of 65 fathers by the end of September 30 2012 * 86% is the 3rd Quarter Total

What Makes Us Unique? Fatherhood Connections located at the WIA One Stop Centralized in downtown Toledo Multiple Support Services in one location such as: Community College Occupational & Basic Skills Training GED Classes Job & Family Services (Access to Food Stamps TANF & Daycare) Veteran Services Workforce Development Employer of the Day Seminars Job Fairs Parenting Classes Mentoring Professional Development Classes

Fatherhood Dress for Success Shoe/clothing Drive

Center Of Hope Nurturing Parenting Classes Center of Hope Facilitators. From L to R: Rev. Brown, Rev. Robert Bass, Tracee Perryman (Director of Center of Hope), Rev. Calvin Sweeney, PhD., and Rev. Ben Green A Nurturing Father’s class in session in our classroom area.

Nurturing Father’s Graduates

Fatherhood Connections Team Daniel B. Johnson Ron Burel Thomas Boyd Coordinator Job Developer Job Developer

What are the fathers saying… “I just had another child and now I have a chance to start over.” “Now more than ever I want to spend time with my child.” “I wish someone would have taught me all of this before.” “I have learned how to talk to my child at their level.”

Family Fun

TELLING OUR STORY… Media Internal External Faith Based Community County Partners Public Moms & Dads Legal Community CSEA Attorney & Defense Attorneys Photos courtesy of the Toledo Blade

Our Progress… Lessons Learned Define successful completion of the program Data Collection Early Findings 70 – 80% Show rate on Motions to Show Cause How was paternity established Arrears (Assigned or Unassigned) License Suspended Payments (Obligor, Employer, Involuntary Payments etc) In the first quarter over $12,000 support paid Additional Support Services Mediation to establish Visitation and Companionship Orders Review and Adjustments Waiver and Compromise

Where Do we go from Here? Our stakeholder meetings keep the project on track Continuous review of the data leads to ongoing program improvements Exploring the addition of young fathers ordered into the program via an Administrative Order Grant seeking to support target population expansion and supportive services Summer 2013 funds for employment

RESOURCES Website www.co.lucas.oh.us www.thesourcenwo.org Facebook – LIKE US! Lucas County Department of Job & Family Services Fatherhood Connections Group Child Support Self Service Portal http://www.jfs.ohio.gov/ocs/