GreenLight Fund Cincinnati has announced a $600,000, multiyear investment to bring a national program to Southwest Ohio to support the mental health of local fathers.
Fathers’ Uplift is a national program that works primarily with first-time fathers and those re-entering their children’s lives after an absence. The organization helps strengthen the emotional wellbeing of fathers in order so they can have stronger, more supportive relationships with their children. The belief is that those improved relationships will help protect the mental health of kids.
Over the next four years, the program aims to reach nearly 500 fathers in Cincinnati, benefiting more than 2,000 children.
“GreenLight Fund is bringing a proven model Cincinnati urgently needs,” said Carolyn Brinkmann, vice president of early childhood and school-age services at Best Point Education Behavioral Health and GreenLight’s Selection Advisory Council member. “Investing in Fathers’ Uplift is a timely solution that promotes family stability and wellness.”
Finding the right fit for a Cincy investment
Founded in Boston in 2004, GreenLight Fund is a network of partner sites across the United States that work with local communities to tackle barriers preventing individuals and families from achieving prosperity.
GreenLight Cincinnati’s selection of the Fathers’ Uplift is the result of a yearlong selection process, which revealed a critical need for mental health support for youth, according to a release from the organization. In its statement, GreenLight Cincinnati cited research showing the important role a nurturing relationship with a parent can play in a child’s wellbeing.
In Hamilton County, 40% of households with children are single-parent, and 950,000 children in Ohio live in single-parent families.
“We sought an evidence-based program that could engage both youth and their parents to improve mental health and add capacity to our overburdened system,” said Erin Saul, executive director of GreenLight Cincinnati.
As part of this grant, Fathers’ Uplift, founded in Boston, will bring licensed therapists with similar racial, cultural and lived experiences to Cincinnati. The program will offer mental health care, coaching and family counseling to help fathers strengthen their relationships with their children. In Cincinnati, Fathers’ Uplift aims to improve parent-child relationships and reduce youth depression and mental health crises.
“After 27 years working with dads in Cincinnati, I know that when fathers prioritize their mental health, it directly improves their relationships with their children,” said Calvin Williams, who coordinates the Fatherhood Collaborative at Hamilton County Jobs & Family Services.
A proven track record
In addition to supporting fathers, Fathers’ Uplift will offer a fellowship program for BIPOC social work students, increasing the local pipeline of BIPOC therapists. The program’s impact in Boston shows that 93% of dads report improved relationships with their children and 88% are more actively engaged, per GreenLight Cincinnati.
Fathers’ Uplift will hire local staff and begin accepting referrals this summer. The program will complement existing family services in the city, including those focused on maternal health. And GreenLight Cincinnati plans to provide ongoing strategic support to ensure the program’s long-term impact.
This is the sixth investment for GreenLight Cincinnati, following its support for programs like Center for Employment Opportunities and UpTogether. More details are available on the Greenlight Fund’s website.
“As mental health professionals, we understand the challenges fathers face,” said Fathers’ Uplift co-founders Dr. Charles Daniels and Samantha Fils-Daniels. “We’re honored to extend our services to Cincinnati and engage with its vibrant community.”
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