FBCI Projects

According to the USDA, close to 500,000 children are at risk of hunger or food insecurity during summer vacation because they do not receive free and reduced-priced meals through school. Governor Strickland has said that “no child should go hungry in Ohio.” In order to combat this growing problem in Ohio, GOFBCI’s Feed Ohio grant funds will enable food program sponsors to establish new sites in needy communities throughout the state during the summer of 2008 by assisting with the start-up and program costs.  Along with providing meals to these children, each site will provide enrichment activities to feed their minds as well. Project Manager, Shandell Jamal will provide oversight and direction to the grant programs.  The programs operate from June to August. The 2009 application period is now closed.  

 The Feed Ohio 2009 grant recipients were:

Appalachian Nutrition Network: 10 sites: 9 New, 1 Existing
Community Action Organization of Scioto County, Inc.: 7 sites: 4 New, 3 Existing
Erie Huron Counties Community Action Commission, Inc.: 4 sites:2 New, 2 Existing
Lighthouse, Inc.: 3 sites: 1 New, 2 Existing
St. Stephen's Community House: 3 sites: 2 New, 1 Existing
West Afterschool Center: 5 sites: 3 New, 2 Exisiting

For more information on operating a summer food site in 2010 or to refer a child, please contact the Office for Safety, Health and Nutrition with the Department of Education at 1-800-808-6325.

For more information on the Feed Ohio: Summer Food Service Program, please contact Shandell Jamal. 

Ohio Fatherhood Initiative (OFI) grants will assist organizations working to promote strong, healthy relationships between fathers and their children. GOFBCI will partner with faith-based and community organizations throughout Ohio who work to ensure fathers have the resources they need to play a positive role in the lives of their children. GOFBCI established the Commission on Fatherhood, who administers this grant program. The application period is currently closed.

For information on the Ohio Fatherhood Commission or the Ohio Fatherhood Initiative contact Executive Director, Tracy Robinson. 

Also, please note this opportunity for fathers offered by the Treasurer of State's Office.  Smart Money Choices: Fiscally Fit Fathers on September 18 at Columbus State Community College.

GOFBCI is currently funding comprehensive family case management and reentry support to formerly incarcerated persons and their families.  Through these programs, which operate in partnership with the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction, we are committed to reaching the following goals:

• Reduce recidivism rates for ex-offenders
• Strengthen and reunite families (following a period of separation due to incarceration)
• Reduce the likelihood of an ex-offender’s child becoming (themselves being) incarcerated

Further, the investment seeks to capture intermediate measures of reintegration. For example, our office is interested in seeking more detailed information around the use of community institutions by ex-offenders which are traditionally associated with desistance from crime.

In fiscal year 2008, the eleven programs provided pre-release, post-release, and family case management services to 2,927 people, including 848 offenders, 667 adult family members, and 1,411 children.

Additionally, these programs utilize strengths-based family case management initiatives which are delivered to the incarcerated family member prior to release from prison and ensure multiple supports to other family members who reside within the community. 

Grant recipients were:

Children of Incarcerated Parents Programs:

Alvis House
Center for Families and Children
Talbert House

Returning Home Programs:

Center for Families and Children
Community Connection for Ohio Offenders
Lucas County TASC
Opening Doors, Inc.

Strengthening Ohio Families Initiative Programs:

Economic and Community Development Institute (sub-grantees: EXOFAC, Rachel’s House, Opening Doors, Inc.)
OIC of Clark County
Spirit of Peace
Youngstown UMADAOP (sub-grantees:  Flying High and Greater Youngstown Point)

It is important to note that family case management differs from traditional case management in several fundamental ways.  Case management is a mode of service delivery to an individual that coordinates and monitors assistance from formal service providers and informal resources like local churches and schools.  In contrast, family case management is an innovative approach that brings together individuals needing services with their family members, family mentor (if they have one), the supervising officer (if applicable), and treatment providers to identify and build upon the family’s assets. Most significantly, family case management assists families to build a network of healthy relationships with both formal and informal community resources.  It consists of a person or team who organizes, coordinates and sustains a network of formal and informal supports and activities designed to enhance the well-being of the family.  The goal of family case management is to move the family from formal social supports to informal supports.  The functions of family case management include assessment, planning, intervention, monitoring, and evaluation. Ultimately, the Family Case Management Action Plan, which is thoughtfully produced through the family case management process, provides an essential road-map for the family and facilitates a hands-on way to monitor progress. The application period is currently closed.

For more information regarding the Reentry Initiative, please contact Kimberly Hettel.

GOFBCI has been awarded a five-year demonstration grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to encourage and support marriages and two-parent families in Ohio’s African-American community.  In collaboration with five community organizations, we will deliver comprehensive, research-based Healthy Marriage services and will promote divorce reduction programs aimed at strengthening marriages in the African American community.  Regional partners will utilize the Basic Training for Black Couples and related curricula to sustain marriages with a two-year goal of providing training to 1,600 couples.

Antioch Baptist Church  Cleveland  www.antiochcleveland.org  

The House of the Lord  Akron  www.thotl.org  

The Encampment Church  Cincinnati (513) 681-2444

First Church Of God  Toledo  (419) 255-0097

Trinity Baptist Church  Columbus  http://www.trinity-baptist.com/home.php

For more information regarding the Healthy Marriage Initiative, please contact : Alan Bannister.

Funding for this project was provided by the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Grant: 90FE0109.  Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families.

Adolescence and the transition to adulthood, are times in which youth are expected to develop the academic, social, character, and leadership skills to prepare them for adulthood.  Vulnerable youth face many challenges and have complex needs that require additional support from the community. GOFBCI has awarded funds to 12 organizations committed to empowering vulnerable youth. These grantees provide one on one mentoring and wrap-around services focused on pregnancy prevention and character development. GOFBCI is committed to the success of our state's youth and Project Manager, Shandell Jamal works closely with these organizations to ensure the success of the project.  

The current grant awards are funded through June 30, 2009. The application period is closed.

For information on current funding opportunities please visit the Funding Opportunities page of this site and sign up to receive the funding opportunities announcement sent monthly which lists various public and private opportunities.

The following organizations were awarded the SOFI Mentoring Vulnerable Youth Grants:

• Adoption Network Cleveland - Cleveland
• Family and Community Services, Inc. - Ravenna
• The House of Emmanuel - Toledo
• House of Bread Ministries, Inc. - Toledo
• Community Action Council of Portage County, Inc. - Ravenna
• Northwest Family Services – Lima
• Cincinnati Youth Collaborative – Cincinnati
• Bellefaire JCB – Shaker Heights
• The James C. Williams Center for Advancement – Toledo
• The YMCA of Akron – Akron
• Community Care Network – Cleveland
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of Lorain County – Lorain

For more information on the Mentoring Vulnerable Youth, please contact Shandell Jamal. 

Join the Statewide Mentoring Network