Welcome to Strong Start for
Cuyahoga’s Families
Luis Vazquez, Program Director
Christian Tobin, Program Manager
Charmaine Pope, Career Coach
Teresa Martin, Administrative Assistant
Objectives for today:
Public Awareness of Strong Start for Cuyahoga’s
Families program for key stakeholders within
Cuyahoga County
Dispel myths of Healthy Marriage Demonstration
Grant
To establish functional relationships as a resource
for your agency
What is Strong Start for
Cuyahoga’s Families program?
• Cuyahoga County was selected and awarded a
5 year grant under the Federal Healthy Marriage
Demonstration Grant.
• Approximately 225 grantees were selected from
over 1700 applicants.
• The grant project period is 9/30/06-9/29/11. We
are currently in FY3 of the grant.
• Cuyahoga County was awarded $530,730.00
annually for the 5 year grant period
(approximately 2.6 million total)
What is Strong Start for
Cuyahoga’s Families program?
(continued)
• A voluntary program that is designed to offer a “one-
stop” experience of family support, relationship
education and resources for couples.
• The Strong Start programming is also offered in a
linguistic and culturally supportive format under our
Latino Family track.
• Couples who participate in the program will be provided
with tools needed to enhance the life of their child(ren).
• The core curriculum is entitled “Better Together” and
uses general principles to help the couples build or re-
establish healthy interaction, communication and
implement productive parenting techniques.
What benefits and services are
provided?
• Couples enjoy a weekly “night out” with dinner, childcare
and transportation accommodations. (Classes are held 1 night
per week for 12 weeks.)
• An opportunity for the couple to enhance
communications with one another and their child(ren).
• Training on techniques to enhance conflict resolution.
• Techniques to enhance the ability to work together as
parenting partners to meet the developmental needs of
the child(ren).
• Financial management education.
• Assistance/support with job readiness, employment
search, career advancement and occupational skills
training services.
What are the requirements?
• Under the grant we agreed to serve unmarried
couples living in Cuyahoga County who are
either expecting parents or have a child that is 3
months old or younger.
• The couples do NOT have to live in the same
household. In any case, the couples CANNOT
be married when they enroll.
• The couples must be at or below 150% of the
current Federal Poverty Level Guidelines. (This is
verified during the intake stage.)
Strong Start for Cuyahoga’s
Families Staff:
• Project Director, Luis Vazquez
• Program Manager, Christian Tobin
• Career Coach/Case Manager, Charmaine
Pope
• Administrative Assistant, Teresa Martin
Our Site Locations
• Harvard Community Center
• Hispanic UMADAOP & Spanish American
Committee
• Lexington-Bell Community Center
• May Dugan Center
• University Settlement
Strong Start for Cuyahoga’s Families Program Design
MomsFirst: Birthing Hospitals: Help Me Grow Cuyahoga County Department of Department of YOUR
Referral of Referral of expectant of Cuyahoga Support Enforcement Employment and Children and
expectant parents and new parents in County: Agency: Referral of Family Services: Family AGENCY
(City of Cleveland childbirth education Referral of all unmarried parents at Referral of Services: Will be
classes and at birth
Department of new unmarried time of paternity unmarried parents Referral of listed here
(MetroHealth Hospitals
Public Health & University Hospitals parents and establishment in who apply for parents in case
program) of Cleveland) expectant hospital or DNA testing benefits plans
parents
Cuyahoga Lead Agency:
County 211/First Call for Help: Cuyahoga County Executive Office of Health and
Fatherhood Enhanced Information and
Human Services
Initiative: Public Referral/ Resource System
Awareness Navigation and Coaching
Strong Start for Cuyahoga’s Families
Support & Referral
Partner
1: Lexington - 2: Harvard 3: University 4: May 5:
Bell Community Settlement Dugan HUMADAOP/
Community Services Center Spanish
Center Center American
Committee
Strong Start Programming: Strong Start Latino Family Track:
(Targeting 35 couples during each program year at each site: 1-4) (Targeting 35 couples at HUMADAOP/ Spanish American
Relationship Education/Skills – Better Together, Center for Families and Children Committee during each program year.)
Responsible Parenting Relationship Education/Skills – Better Together,
Parenting Education – Cuyahoga County Board of Health HUMADAOP
Conflict Resolution in Relationships – Domestic Violence Center Responsible Parenting
Domestic Violence/Child Abuse Prevention – Domestic Violence Center, CCBH Parenting Education
Economic Stability Conflict Resolution in Relationships
Financial Education – KeyBank Financial Education Center Domestic Violence/Child Abuse Prevention
Subsidized Job Training & Employment – Employment Connection Economic Stability:
Follow-up by Program Sites Financial Education
Subsidized Job Training & Employment
Follow-up by Program Sites
Current Referral Info
• All of our referring partner agencies, Invest In
Children and NEON Health Centers.
• “Reverse referrals” from the 5 program sites.
• Our families come from all over Cuyahoga
County. However, the top 5 cities of residence
for our participants are Cleveland, Euclid, East
Cleveland, Cleveland Heights and Maple
Heights.
• The age range of interested participants
currently is 17-34.
How are referrals made?
• Our media efforts indicate contact should
begin by calling United Way’s First Call for
Help at 211 or 216-436-2000.
• Many agencies prefer to have a paper
referral form, which we’ve included in your
packet and will be glad to send to you
electronically. These should be faxed to
our office at 216-443-7276
Dispelling the myths:
• The Healthy Marriage Demonstration Grant is
not about performing marriage ceremonies.
• We do focus on enhancing pivotal aspects of the
relationship.
• We do promote strengthening the overall family
unit through healthy relationships.
• We do promote couples being able to model
healthy relationships for the children in their
household.
How can we be a resource for you?
• Over time we have broken down the variables of the
formula for our families to be successful.
• Most programs focus on helping “mom”. If the parents
are married “dad” can receive some supports/benefits.
• Many newer programs have been funded to include
“dad”. In fact, Cuyahoga County is a leader in “father
friendly” service and has an outstanding Fatherhood
Initiative providing a plethera of programs and supports.
• Strong start tries to pull both parents into the equation to
provide them with supports to help build a solid
foundational structure in their relationship so that the
child(ren) benefit.
The observations from FY1 & FY2:
• Statistical information
• Evaluation Summary
• Successful couples
We need you!
• We need for you to consider the Strong Start for
Cuyahoga’s Families program as a resource for the
families that you touch.
• As a referral partner we will provide you with materials
about the program, referral forms and conduct training
sessions at each of your sites.
• Please have your eligible families call 211 United Way’s
First Call for Help and mention “Strong Start” to the
Information Specialist. We will do the rest.
• If you prefer a paper referral form, please use the one
included in your packet and fax it to our office at 216-
443-7276.
The future of the family unit…
• Sustainability of the family unit requires some
change in how we do business. We propose that
we consider the following:
• Open up a track for married couples
• Expand the age of children
• Expand the program sites for greater
convenience and to meet enrollment needs
• Strengthen relationships for functionality in
supports and resources at all community levels
Strong Start Contact Information
• Luis Vazquez, Program Director
216-443-7297
• Christian Tobin, Program Manager
216-698-2371 or 216-780-3025
• Charmaine Pope, Career Coach/Case
Manager
216-698-2313 or 216-780-3026
• Teresa Martin, Administrative Assistant
216-348-3967