New Program for Fathers Begins With KU Partnership on FORGE Grant

Supporting Fathers, Strengthening Families: A New Program Launches with KU

Cornerstones of Care is proud to partner with the University of Kansas on a new initiative designed to support fathers and father figures as they build stronger relationships, financial stability, and long-term success for their families.

With a five-year, $3.75 million FORGE (Family Opportunity, Resilience, Grit, Engagement) grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the partnership will bring evidence-based education, financial coaching, mentorship, and individualized hands-on support to families in Atchison, Douglas, Johnson, Leavenworth, and Wyandotte counties.

Our collaboration on a previous grant dedicated to Parent/Youth Facilitation and a shared commitment to support local parents made KU a natural fit as a partner when the FORGE grant became available. When KU learned about the opportunity in July 2024, they reached out to Cornerstones of Care right away to explore working together.

The eight-week program will serve fathers and father figures age 18 and older with children under the age of 24. It’s open to any father or father figure including stepfathers, adoptive fathers, and relatives serving in a fatherly role. Foster care involvement is not required to participate. To reduce barriers to participation, those enrolled in the program can earn gift card incentives to help cover expenses like childcare, transportation, food, and internet access, making it easier to stay engaged and consistent.

Cornerstones of Care will play a central role in bringing the program to life. While KU oversees overall operations, finances, and grant requirements, we will implement and manage day-to-day program operations. The program will be supervised by Laura Walters, our Director of Client Support Services, who will also hire key staff including program facilitators and case managers who will work directly with participants.

The goal of the program is to equip fathers with tools they can immediately apply at home, at work, and in their communities, supporting both their own well-being and that of their children. The instruction focuses on two main initiatives. The first is the Supporting Father Involvement curriculum, which is “a research-backed curriculum designed to support healthy marriages, father involvement in children’s lives, good relationships, breaking cycles of generational trauma and more.”

The program’s second aspect is Money Habitudes, which is an initiative that boosts economic stability by going beyond basic financial literacy to “build a personal profile of an individual and their attitudes and behavior toward money that influences how they spend and save.”

According to Walters, this program responds to a clear gap in services. She shared that there are not enough resources focused on dads, particularly for those navigating employment, parenting, and financial pressures at the same time. “By strengthening family relationships, enhancing parenting skills, and building employment readiness and financial stability, participants will be better equipped to support their children and families. The program aims to improve long-term outcomes for both fathers and children by fostering stability, responsibility, and positive family engagement,” she said.

KU is looking to extend support for participating fathers past the conclusion of the eight-week course. Pegah Naemi Jimenez, associate researcher senior and principal investigator in KU’s School of Social Welfare, said “The support doesn’t end with an eight-week program. There needs to be a community network for dads, and we hope to help build that. We have funds dedicated to partnering with community organizations that will build relationships with dads to build those networks to help them stay engaged and supported.”

Through this partnership, Cornerstones of Care and KU are investing in families and the powerful role fathers play in helping children thrive. As Naemi Jimenez put it, “The research suggests that when you can build a shared relationship between dads and families, even if they don’t have full custody, they are more likely to stay engaged and involved. We want dads to continue to have peer supports and to be at the forefront of what a strong network for fathers can be in our community.”

We look forward to sharing more about the program as it gets underway.