Ohio gets $10 million to train men for fatherhood

The federal government is trying to rescue low-income dads with multimillion-dollar grants. A $10 million allocation coming to Ohio over the next five years is designed to get dads back into families and curb the cycle of poverty.

Father-absence affects children by squelching student success, restricting emotional maturity, and slowing labor-force participation. Almost 25 percent of families with children under 18 are maintained by mothers, according to a congressional report released this year. Children raised in single-parent households are significantly more likely to become teenage parents, have poverty-level incomes and struggle with emotional and behavioral problems.

Responsible father programs work to create economic stability, responsible parenting, and healthy relationships for fathers.

“I've noticed our programs to be very reactive,” said Kimberly Dent, executive director at Ohio's Commission on Fatherhood. “By the time we engage with the dads they’ve already had something happen in their life.” Dent said the money would give fathers tools they needed to become responsible parents.

Critics of fatherhood programs say they undervalue single mothers. But fears that fatherhood programs would give deadbeat dads more leverage in challenging child custody, child support, and visitation arrangements haven’t proven true, according to the Fatherhood Initiatives report by the Congressional Research Service.

Ohio plans to release funds to new and expectant low-income fathers in five counties across the state. Men ages 16-24 will receive benefits such as job training, parenting classes, and healthy marriage and relationship education thanks to the government grant. “We chose these counties based on poverty, out of wedlock birth, and infant mortality,” Dent said. “We’re always focusing on what's best for the child.”