OKLAHOMA CITY (April 12, 2023) -- Oklahoma Human Services announced today a $9 million investment of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funding over the next three years to organizations that are implementing fatherhood-specific services across the state, including in rural areas. Aimed at increasing men’s involvement in family life, the agency seeks to increase fathers’ parenting knowledge and skills, enhance fathers’ relationship skills and co-parenting relationship quality and improve economic stability for fathers and families through these programs.

“I want Oklahoma to be the most pro-family state in which every member of the family is respected, loved, supported and included,” said Governor Stitt. “Fatherhood is an important piece of that puzzle, and I’m encouraged by this initiative to continue to expand and increase fatherhood programs in our communities.”

Research has concluded that active father involvement is associated with a wide range of positive outcomes for children, co-parents, families and communities. The evidence-based fatherhood programs implemented through these investments will help men actively engage in their children’s lives and identify and use resources to benefit their own lives.

“Supporting fathers to take active roles in their children’s lives and reducing community-level barriers that may keep them from doing so creates stronger families, healthier communities and a more hopeful state,“ said Oklahoma Secretary for Human Services, Justin Brown. “Oklahoma Human Services is proud to invest in our communities and into these programs that use research-based fatherhood curricula to increase opportunities and positive outcomes for our state’s children and their parents.“

These contract awards come as the result of a competitive bid process (RFP) to fund ten organizations at a maximum amount of $300,000 per year for up to three years.

• OSU Cooperative Extension Fatherhood Programs in
  • Kay County
  • Oklahoma County
  • Carter County
  • Creek County
  • Garfield County
  • Muskogee County
  • Payne County
  • Rogers County
  • Tulsa County
• University of Oklahoma through University Outreach Center for Public Management "Forge Your Trail" Fatherhood Program

“We are so fortunate that many of the problems our agency sees in the Child Welfare space, including poverty and lack of adequate resources, can be readily addressed within the myriad services offered through our Adult and Family Services (AFS) programs,“ said Dr. Deb Shropshire, Oklahoma Human Services Director. “The flexibilities offered through TANF allow us to find creative, innovative solutions, like these fatherhood programs, to benefit our state’s communities.“

The OSU Cooperative Extension Fatherhood Programs will offer weekly classes through the 24/7 DAD program that will provide high quality father-specific services. These will include topics such as life skills, parenting knowledge, relationship skills, economic stability, positive community networks, knowledge of the family court system, co-parenting relationship quality, and the importance of child support to fathers.

The University of Oklahoma "Forge Your Trail" Fatherhood Program will use the “On My Shoulders” curriculum. Through a dual approach of group workshops and coaching support, the program will help fathers navigate challenges to increase their success in relationships and financial stability.

“One of our True North goals in AFS is to identify and implement innovative and sustainable strategies that build family capacity,“ said Deb Smith, Oklahoma Human Services Director of Adult and Family Services. “Programs like these fatherhood initiatives help our customers and community members engage in deeper, healthier relationships within their own families while also creating pathways toward self-sufficiency and economic independence.“

TANF is a federally funded block grant that provides states with flexibility in operating programs designed to help low-income families with children achieve economic self-sufficiency. The funding for this project is categorized under TANF Purposes 3 and/or 4:

• 3 - Prevent and reduce the incidence of out-of-wedlock pregnancies
• 4 - Encourage the formation and maintenance of two parent families. Fatherhood programs under TANF Purpose include co-parenting when the child(ren) reside in a residence that does not include both biological or adoptive parents.

Oklahoma Human Services’ Fatherhood initiative is grounded in True North principles that anchor the agency’s work in this space:

• We believe a father’s role is greater than just financial, and we will support fathers in standing up to provide for their families emotionally and financially and with direction and purpose.
• We will leverage community, non-profit, faith-based and government organization partners to deploy resources necessary in support of fathers playing an important role in the lives of their families.
• We will elevate the role and perception of fathers in the community.

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