Dads Matter2

The Cuyahoga County Division of Children and Family Services actively works to ensure dads are involved in any matters relating to their children. With the #DadsMatter2 program, we’re strengthening our efforts to identify, locate, engage, and support dads. Because when fathers are involved it benefits children, empowers fathers, strengthens families, and builds up communities.

Involved Fathers Influence a Child’s Well-Being

The presence of a safe and responsible father can have profound positive effects on a child including:

• Improved academic performance
• Lower levels of depression · Less behavior problems
• Form healthy relationships · Reduction of future maltreatment
• Healthy self-esteem in adolescents
• Regular school attendance
• Reduced substance use
• Positive social behavior
• Experience less poverty

Healthy Relationships & Co-Parenting

A child needs BOTH parents in their life. Please consider fostering a positive relationship with your child’s father or mother. A father who has a relationship with the mother of his child, based on respect, is more likely to be involved and spend time with his child. Conflict is harmful to children. This remains true regardless of whether the parents are married or living together.

• Children are more likely to be happy and well-adjusted when their parents get along. The stress of parental conflict can have a negative effect on children and even on their immune system causing health problems.
• Children who witness their father’s anger toward their mother are more at risk for depression, aggression, and poor health and may be more withdrawn and anxious.
• Girls with involved, respectful fathers, see how they should be treated by men and are less likely to become involved in violent or unhealthy relationships.
• Just as child maltreatment and domestic abuse can be passed on from one generation to the next, so can respect, caring, and kindness.

Read more about how Fathers Make a Child's Life Better. (Spanish version)

Attention Dads: You Have Rights!

Are you a dad who does not live with your child and learned your child may be the victim of suspected abuse or neglect? Even if you aren’t your child’s caretaker, or don’t see your child often, there are many things you and your relatives can do to ensure your child is safe and with family quickly.

Why this is important

Your child’s custody case will move fast.

Important decisions will be made early about:

• where your child will live,
• what services your child needs, and
• who your child gets to visit or contact.

You must know how to help your child through this process and protect your rights to your child.

Rights

As a parent, you have rights in child welfare custody cases. If you are the child’s legal father, you have the same rights as your child’s mother, including the right to:

• Ongoing contact with your child unless the court or agency finds it is not in your child’s best interest or may harm him or her.
• The right to care for and ask for custody of your child.
• The right to take part in planning for your child’s placement.
• The right to bring whomever you would like to the table to accept care of your children, should you not be able to provide care yourself.
• The right to be a part of the decision making and case planning for your family.
• The right to prompt notification of all court hearings and meetings related to your child.

Responsibilities

Proving you are the father. Knowing you are the child’s father does not mean the court will recognize you as the father and automatically give you these rights. You may have to prove you are the child’s “legal” father. There are two (2) ways to establish paternity:

1. Contact Office of Child Support at 216-443-5100 to sign an Acknowledgment of Paternity Affidavit. Both parties must provide photo identification and the child’s birth certificate and sign the document before a notary.
2. The second method of establishing paternity is through DNA genetic testing. A mouth swab is performed on all parties. The results will be mailed to the parties within thirty (30) days of all parties being tested.

Be involved. Being an active participant in the life of your child, will offer your child many life-long benefits. Make sure you attend all visits with your child and be on time. Work with your caseworker to establish a visitation time that works for you. Your caseworker will make every effort to be sure that your visits are frequent and take place in the least restrictive environment that will be comfortable and safe for your child.

Be present. When you visit with your child focus only on your child. This time is best spent interacting with your child through play, sharing a meal, listening to music, or talking about their day.

Be heard. Make your identity and contact information known to the caseworker. There will be times that you are invited to join the agency in meetings to talk about progress in your case and discuss problems and identify solutions. This is your opportunity to share your opinion regarding your child’s care and case. Bring relatives or other important people to the table. Ask questions to be clear about the decisions that are made and what is expected of you and by when. You also have a key role in the court process. By coming to court and being an active participant in the hearings you can help your child and protect your rights.

Be an active participant. The agency will develop a case plan with you. This plan will outline services or tasks that you must complete to live with, or have more contact with your child and to have the case closed. Your input in case planning is very important. Once you are linked to services it is your responsibility to complete them and provide confirmation to the caseworker.

Stay involved and keep in contact. Respond to the caseworker and stay in touch! Things move quickly, and we may have to contact you without much notice. If any of your contact information changes, be sure to contact the caseworker right away with the new information. It is your responsibility to update the caseworker regularly about your progress on your case plan services or if you encounter any barriers (i.e. transportation, child care, conflicts with your job, service not meeting your needs). Establish regular contact with the caseworker so he/she knows you are interested and care about the well-being of your child.

Read more about Father's Rights and Responsibilities. (Spanish version)

Father Engagement Specialist (F.E.S.)/Passages

A partnership between Passages: Connecting Fathers and Families and Cuyahoga County Division of Children and Family Services

What is the Role of the F.E.S. on the Case?

How will a Father Engagement Specialist help me?

Your F.E.S. will...

• Help you understand your rights and responsibilities as a father when your child comes into care.
• Assist you in preparing for court or meetings held with your caseworker.
• Work one-on-one with you to address your immediate needs.
• Provide help related to parenting, job skills, and linkage to services to eliminate barriers to caring for your child.
• Work with you to build a healthy relationship with your parenting partner.
• Prepare you for a more active role in your child’s life now.

Passages focus is on building resilient families while increasing your capacity to reach your goals and eliminate barriers. https://www.passages-oh.org/

Additional Supports offered by Passages

Through CLIENT CENTERED INDIVIDUALIZED CASE MANAGEMENT, you will have the ability to create a safe, stable environment for yourself and your children while preparing yourself to have a more active role in your child’s life.

Individualized support to make sure that you are intentionally and meaningfully represented on your case plan.

ECONOMIC STABILITY: Skill building, and employment readiness workshops lead to job placement and/or entry into vocational training programs.

PARENTHOOD ENRICHMENT: Learn how to build a healthy relationship with your child and with your parenting partner(s) while learning to recognize the important role you play in your child’s healthy development.

INFORMATION AND REFERRAL: Ensuring you are considered on the case plan, child support navigation, increased visitation for non-custodial fathers, access to transportation, housing, GED services, and basic needs.