STRONG FATHERS/STRONG FAMILIES
Organization name: Fathers and Families Center
Program Type
Academic programs
Financial aid & financial literacy programs
Mentoring and career navigation programs
Leadership skills & college/career prep programs
Ages Served:
12-18 Years
19-25 Years
Overview
Brief Program Summary: Fathers and Families Center (FFC) helps fathers (including from 15%
to 50% between the ages of 16-24, depending on the year) to become better partners, providers
and parents through a three week Strong Fathers class, workforce development services, case
management/barrier assistance, and access to professional certifications as well as
physical/mental/behavioral health services through relatonships with partners. In addition to
supporting the organization financially and hiring FFC graduates, corporate partners serve as
board members, advocate for FFC in the community, and provide mock interviews and resume
review for participants. Warren Township Community School Corporation affords FFC the
opportunity to offer the High School Equivalency Test (HISET) on-site and provides a part-time
instructional assistant to support the full-time education specialist who prepares participants to
pass the exam. Ivy Tech works with participants interested in both degree programs and non-
degree certifications leading to higher wages. All other partners above offer training programs
leading to high-wage/high-demand jobs.
Success Metrics: Fathers and Families Center assess its economic impact in terms of job
placement/retention, wages earned, credentials obtained, advancement/promotion from Any job
to a Better job to a Career job. Non-economic impact is assessed across several domains
including child educational attainment, growth of social networks, family function and wholeness,
health and well-being of family members, and basic needs of family members met.
Participants enter the Fathers and Families program with an average income of roughly $8,000,
with over 50% reporting no income at all. The average wage for jobs participants obtain through
Fathers and Families’ efforts is $14.68/hour, with the vast majority of participants working full-time
jobs. Accordingly, participants increase their earnings by over 280% on average. Just as
importantly, graduates of the program report spending more quality time with their children,
utilizing constructive discipline, and engaging more intensively in their children’s education.
Finally, graduates report improved relationships with their co-parents and/or current partners,
creating a home life more likely to help children in the home thrive and succeed.
Demographics
Number Served & Racial Distribution:
Total Number of Individuals Annually Served
1000 fathers, impacting 4,000 children and about 50 women each year.
Black or African Americans Annually Served
89%
Hispanic or Latinos Annually Served
2%
Geographic Scope:
− Central Indiana Counties: Marion
− Additional/Other Areas of Focus: A slim majority of participants come from the five zip
codes designated by the mayor as high-crime/high-poverty: 46218, 46235, 46226,
46208 and 46201.
Resources
Annual Operating Cost: $1.4 million
Initial Start-Up Cost: N/A
Contact Information
Organization Name: Fathers and Families Center
Website: https://fathersandfamiliescenter.org/
Respondents Name: Joseph Palus
Email: joseph.palus@fathersandfamiliescenter.org
About
Business Equity for Indy (BEI) is a collection of stakeholders on a mission to drive change and advance racial equity.
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