Strong Start for Cuyahoga's Families

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=90 BGCOLOR="#006699" TEXT="#080000" background="04b785a3.jpg"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" ><B>Healthy Fathering Collaborative</B></FONT><B>    </B><B> |     </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Healthy Fathering Collaborative"><U><B>home</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=210 BGCOLOR="#FFCC66" TEXT="#080000" background="04cd2b03.jpg"> <div> <I>Strong Start for Cuyahoga's Families</I></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id18.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Programs for Fathers"><U><B>back to Programs for Fathers</B></U></A></div> </td> <td valign="top" height=390 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <bR> <div> welcome to <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#000099" FACE="Arial" ><B>Strong</B></FONT><B> </B><FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" >Start</FONT> for Cuyahoga's Families   </div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Are you expecting a baby soon or do you have a new child that is 3 months old or younger? </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Are you and your parenting partner unmarried? </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Do you live in Cuyahoga County? </div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000099" FACE="Arial" ><B>Strong </B></FONT><B>Start</B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > for Cuyahoga's Families may be just what you're looking for.  </FONT><A HREF="#strong_start_information" TITLE="Strong Start for Cuyahogas Families"><U><B>click here for contact information</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000099" FACE="Arial" ><B>Strong</B></FONT><B> </B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" ><B>Start</B></FONT> for Cuyahoga's Families -  Making families stronger in Cuyahoga County</div> <bR> <div> <B>Why </B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000099" FACE="Arial" ><B>Strong</B></FONT><B> </B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" ><B>Start</B></FONT><B> for Cuyahoga'sFamilies?</B></div> <div> Over two-thirds of all births in the City of Cleveland are to unwed parents. This rate is twice the national average. The City of Cleveland was rated the poorest large city in the placecountry-regionUnited States in 2004 and 2006. Cleveland's high school graduation rate is only 47%. 24.8% of all households are led by females with no husband. </div> <bR> <div> Research suggests that children living in an alternative family structure do not fare as well as children living with their two married biological parents. Studies show that children who grow up in single-parent families are at greater risk of substance abuse, criminal activity, early sexual involvement and suicide.  On average, children living with two married, biological parents have higher test scores, miss fewer days of school and are more likely to attend and graduate from college.</div> <bR> <div> Strong Start for Cuyahoga's Families provides the opportunity to help couples learn and apply skills that will improve communication between parenting partners, improve their ability to resolve conflicts, and strengthen their commitment to achieving stability in their relationship. </div> <bR> <div> In essence, the program helps couples provide their child with the strongest possible start in life.</div> <bR> <div> <B>What is </B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000099" FACE="Arial" ><B>Strong</B></FONT><B> </B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" ><B>Start</B></FONT><B> for Cuyahoga's Families?</B></div> <div> Strong Start for Cuyahoga's Families is a voluntary program that is designed to offer a “one-stop” shop experience of family support, education and resources for couples who are either expecting a baby or have a new baby that is 3 months old or younger at the time they enroll. Couples who participate in the program will be provided with the tools needed to enhance the life of their child.</div> <bR> <div> Weekly programs will be provided in convenient neighborhood locations throughout the City of Cleveland. </div> <div> Services are also offered in Spanish.</div> <bR> <div> <B>What BENEFITS AND services does </B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000099" FACE="Arial" ><B>Strong</B></FONT><B> </B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" ><B>Start</B></FONT><B> provide?</B></div> <div> • A weekly “night out” with dinner, childcare and transportation.</div> <div> • An opportunity to improve communications between your parenting partner and you.</div> <div> • The training necessary to enhance your ability to resolve conflicts.</div> <div> • Instructions to improve your ability to work together as parenting partners to meet the developmental needs of your baby.</div> <div> • Financial management education. </div> <div> • Job placement, career advancement and job readiness services.</div> <bR> <div> <B> <A NAME="strong_start_information"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B><B>How do you sign up for the program?</B></div> <div> Call 2-1-1 or 216-436-2000, United Way's 211/First Call for Help. Tell the operator that you are interested in the <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000099" FACE="Arial" ><B>Strong</B></FONT> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" ><B>Start</B></FONT> for Cuyahoga's Families program. The operator will then assist you.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Program Manager</B> - Christian Tobin 216-698-2371 or email <A HREF="mailto:ctobin@cuyahogacounty.us" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:ctobin@cuyahogacounty.us"><U>ctobin@cuyahogacounty.us</U></A></div> <div> <B>Career Coach/Case Manager</B> - Charmaine Pope 216-698-2313 or email <A HREF="mailto:cpope@cuyahogacounty.us" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:cpope@cuyahogacounty.us"><U>cpope@cuyahogacounty.us</U></A></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> Funding for this project was provided by the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Grant number 90FE0052.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>