DENVER (Nov. 13, 2020) — The Colorado Department of Human Services’ Office of Early Childhood (OEC) was awarded a $7.5 million Colorado Fatherhood Grant by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration for Children and Families. The grant will provide services across seven sites in Colorado and is designed to serve adult fathers age 18 and older through fatherhood partnerships. The program will serve 1,820 eligible fathers over five years.
The program's goal is to strengthen fathers’ well-being and prevent child maltreatment through wrap-around services and supports. Funding will allow Colorado fathers to access quality services that will help build social capital, and will increase healthy relationships, economic security, and parenting competence. The funding will also help coordinate and align Colorado’s fatherhood system to enhance the resources available to families and improve the quality of relationships among families, male caregivers and children.
“This funding presents Colorado with an exciting opportunity to help build and strengthen the relationship between fathers and their children,” said Mary Alice Cohen, OEC director. “Fathers play a vital role in their children’s development, and this work will be impactful for families and communities across our state.”
The voluntary program services will be supported by a consortium of project partners, including OEC’s Community and Family Support division; the Office of Economic Security’s Child Support Services and Colorado Works (also known as Temporary Assistance for Needy Families or TANF); the Office of Children, Youth and Families’ Domestic Violence Program; the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment; the intermediary vendor (to be identified); the Financial Health Institute; Head Start; Illuminate Colorado; the program evaluator (to be identified); and philanthropic partners.
Media contact:
Lynlee Espeseth, Communications Manager
lynlee.espeseth@state.co.us
303.866.5724