While the crisis of father absence is national, solutions must be found and implemented at the local level, one community at a time. Moreover, in this time of budget shortfalls and rising needs, local leaders must build collaborations and coordinate services. With this in mind, in 2011 the Ohio Commission on Fatherhood launched the first ever Ohio County Fatherhood Initiative. To date, the following counties have participated in the project:
What did counties receive?
Who provided the training?
The Ohio Commission on Fatherhood staff, fatherhood practitioners and leaders from other counties who have completed the training. How long was the training?
Training took place over six months and consisted primarily of conference calls and webinars.
How much did the training cost?
The Ohio Commission on Fatherhood provided the training at no cost to the counties. In fact, counties participating in the initiative received a one-time $10,000 implementation grant to begin or continue fatherhood programs in their county. The funds are dispersed to a participating organization or county agency at the end of the training.
Who must participate in the training?
The leadership team must participate in the training. Effective July 1, 2019, the leadership team must consist of 5 of the following 7 people or their designees:
1. County Commissioner or State Representative 2. Juvenile or Domestic Relations Judge 3. Director of Child Support 4. Director of Child Welfare 5. Leader of a local faith-based entity or business 6. Community father
7. Corrections representative from jail or community corrections located in the county
By working together, counties can promote responsible fatherhood and create long term solutions to the father absence crisis, one family at a time. Our hope is that eventually leaders from all 88 Ohio counties will participate in this training and launch successful County Fatherhood Initiatives in every county in the state.
To apply to participate in a future training go to: https://fatherhood.ohio.gov/Funded-Programs2/Ohio-County-Fatherhood-Initiative-Participation-Form.aspx Click on the printer icon to print a PDF version of this page
The Commission Meeting is scheduled for Thursday, May 12, 2022 from 10:00 am. – 12:00 p.m. It will be a virtual Zoom Webinar. The audience is encouraged to utilize the chat Q&A to interact with the Commissioners, guest speaker(s), and the Ohio Commission on Fatherhood (OCF) staff. Zoom link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81763981193?pwd=TmhYMEY1eFgxWTNEZTZIbnBPRFlsdz09 Passcode: 813187 Webinar ID: 817 6398 1193 The phone # +1 301 715 8592
Please click here to join the Ohio Commission on Fatherhood Meeting scheduled for Thursday, May 12, 2022 Commissioners’ Meeting. If you would like to listen to the recordings or see presentations from the previous Commission Meetings, please click here. Please Note: We are unable to provide technical assistance during meetings.
2022 Commission Meeting Dates: Feb. 10, May 12, July 14, Sept. 8 and Nov. 10.
If you would like to attend a commission meeting or if you have any questions, please contact Terri Simons via e-mail at Terri.Simons@jfs.ohio.gov.
If you need to speak to someone over the phone, please contact Executive Director Kimberly Dent at 614-752-0583.
Reforming Child Support to Improve Outcomes for Children and Families, June 2019
Supporting the Fatherhood Journey: Finding from the Parents and Children Together (PACT) Evaluation
Child Support Noncustodial Parent Employment Demonstration (CSPED) Impact Report
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services: Promoting Responsible Fatherhood AdCouncil Fatherhood PSAs
Region V Fatherhood Webinars
National Fatherhood Initiative National Center for Fathering
Kids Count Data
Fatherhood Well-Being Screening Tool
Grant Writing Webinar (Power Point Slides)
Infant Vitality Toolkit for Fathers
Ohio County Services
Ohio Practitioners Network for Fathers and Families (OPNFF)
Ohio Collaborative to Prevent Infant Mortality
Ohio Ex-Offender Reentry Coalition
Ohio Putative Father Registry
Ohio Strong Babies
Start Talking Ohio
Relink.org - Anonymously find available resources for addiction recovery, human trafficking, and incarceration reentry services in your local area
Find Your County FCFC (ohio.gov)
Ohio Family and Children First > Contact Us