Stabilizing through employment & parenting skills (steps)

The Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families awarded Passages Connecting Fathers & Sons Inc. a Cooperative Agreement for $1,999,998 on September 30, 2025, under the Healthy Marriage Promotion and Responsible Fatherhood Grants program (CFDA 93.086).

Passages will implement the Stabilizing Through Employment & Parenting Skills (STEPS) program to help fathers become better parents, partners, and providers through integrated case management, evidence-based curricula, employment assistance, and financial education. The program will serve at least 900 fathers across three Northeast Ohio counties—Cuyahoga, Lorain, and Lake Counties—over the five-year performance period ending September 29, 2030.

The Healthy Marriage Promotion and Responsible Fatherhood Grants program funds organizations providing services to strengthen families and promote healthy relationships, with Responsible Fatherhood funding supporting father-child engagement and employment and economic stability opportunities.

See attachment. - passages connecting fathers and SON, INC. Will implement the stabilizing through employment & parenting skills (steps) program to help fathers become better parents, partners and providers through integrated case management, evidence-based curricula, employment assistance and financial education. The project will serve community fathers in three northeast ohio counties: cuyahoga, lorain and lake counties. Steps will empower families to improve family functioning, adult and child well-being, healthy relationships, and increase economic stability, serving at least 900 fathers over the five-year project period.