Cuyahoga County Fatherhood Initiative Program Expansion

The Congressionally Recommended Awards Program, authorized by the Department of Justice Appropriations Act, 2010 (Pub. L. 111-117), helps improve the functioning of the criminal justice system, prevent or combat juvenile delinquency, and/or assist victims of crime (other than compensation). Funds should be used for the projects recommended by Congress, in the amounts specified in the joint explanatory statement incorporated by reference into Pub. L. 111-117, and generally consistent with one or more of the following statutory purposes: improving the functioning of the criminal justice system, preventing or combating juvenile delinquency, or assisting victims of crime (other than compensation). Each of these purposes is framed using language drawn, respectively, from the former Byrne discretionary statute, the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act, the Victims of Crime Act, and the Violence Against Women Act. This project is authorized and funded through a line item in the FY 2010 Congressional Budget and by the joint explanatory statement that is incorporated by reference into the FY2010 Department of Justice Appropriations Act.

The Cuyahoga County Board of Commissioners will use the FY 2010 grant funds to support the Cuyahoga County Fatherhood Initiative (CCFI). In particular, the funds from this grant will be used to expand CCFI's support of eight of its core programs and the identification and hiring of a local, qualified external evaluator to monitor, track, and analyze the impact of the activities supported by these grant funds. Established in 2005, the Cuyahoga County Fatherhood Initiative is a government entity supported by funds distributed by the Cuyahoga County Commissioners. The mission of the Initiative is to promote the importance of fathers being involved in the lives of their children, to encourage those fathers who are not engaged to become engaged, and encourage those fathers who are engaged to remain involved with their children.

NCA/NCF