OSU Extension in Greene County has been awarded a grant to work with fathers to broaden their knowledge of parenting skills, build stronger relationships with their children, and improve fathers’ ability to provide for their family members. Greene County fathers are able to utilize the grant services, as well as Dads from seven other counties within the service area:  Clinton, Montgomery, Preble, Darke, Shelby, Miami, and Champaign.

The Greene County Fatherhood Initiative is funded through the Ohio Fatherhood Commission and the Department of Job and Family Services. The approach used by the grant is to utilize existing county agencies and their professional expertise to increase the involvement of fathers in order to meet emotional and physical needs of the family. There are no income limitations to participate in the grant provided services. Parenting/Fathering classes are the primary component of the program, but are one of many programs that could be appropriate for each father's situation.

Ed Haskins from TCN Behavioral Services is the grant’s Case Manager. He administers a Parenting Inventory to fathers as they enter the program and works with the fathers to determine which services best fit their circumstances. Fathers must also complete an Inventory as they leave the program. Fathers can contact TCN at (937) 562-4014 or ehaskins@co.greene.oh.us.

The Ohio State University Extension Office  provides administration of the grant along with educational programming for fathers.

Melanie Hart, County Director teaches an Employability Class that includes learning how to expunge offenses from records. Another element of the Employability component of the grant is ServSafe™ training.

Jean DeBrosse, is certified to provide this instruction to fathers so they are able to use safe food handling practices when preparing food for themselves and their children. The certificate provided after the class is useful to have when applying for a job in food service, as it is an Ohio Department of Health approved class in food safety. Ms. DeBrosse can teach ServSafe™ at any location to a group of participating fathers.

If a father participating in the grant has diabetes or he prepares meals for child with diabetes, he can attend OSUE’s Dining with Diabetes to learn about the disease, how to determine good food choices and taste diabetic friendly recipes.

Brian Montgomery teaches a series titled Money Management. This series includes budgeting, record retention and a session about stretching food dollars and planning nutritious meals for fathers and their children. Both the Employability and Money Management classes are offered at the GreeneWorks facility on Ledbetter Road. To register for these programs, contact the OSU Extension office at (937) 372-9971.

Parenting classes are taught by Ginger Smith from Family and Children First (FCF) where she is the Parent Support Coordinator. Her next parenting class starts Tuesday, September 14 and continues each Tuesday evening through October 26, 2010. These classes will be held at the Greene County Visitation Center at 143 East Market Street in Xenia. Pre-registration is required. To register for these classes contact Ginger Smith at (937) 562-5600.

Additional parenting classes at FCF are available through the Help Me Grow program for parents of children 0-3 years.

The Juvenile Courts also collaborate with the grant and provide parenting classes through the Strengthening Families Program led by Emily Magoteaux. These classes include the entire family. Parents meet in one group while the children meet in another group. Each session ends after the two groups are brought together to review that evening’s topic. Contact the Strengthening Families program at (937) 562-4049.

Services of The Visitation Center and Mediation Services are also available to grant participants. Counselors can help fathers determine whether visitation arrangements can be adjusted to provide for visitation with their children. These services are provided at no cost to grant participants. Additional information is available at (937) 562-5687.

Contact Melanie Hart at (937) 372-9971 for more information specific to the Greene County Fatherhood Initiative,