CLEVELAND, Ohio – When his son’s school started calling about concerning behaviors, Nate Drake showed up. His son wasn’t living with him full-time, but he could still be a full-time dad, he reasoned. He started volunteering in the school cafeteria, talking with his son’s teachers and attending field trips. “I was always involved, but I had to step up and go to the school,” Drake, 34, said. “You have to put everything to the side and try to be there for your kid.” Since then, “I could see his son do a 180,” said Jajuan Robinson, a family support specialist with Say Yes Cleveland who works with students at the boy’s school. Drake’s son’s grades started improving, he was able to advance grades and the troubling calls from the school stopped. Drake is an example of a father going outside of the box to give his time and sacrifice for his children, Robinson said. “We want to let them know; we see you.” Drake was among 20 fathers who were celebrated during the 18th annual Cuyahoga County Fatherhood Initiative conference Friday, at the Crowne Plaza Cleveland at Playhouse Square. The free event, held annually days before Father’s Day, recognizes some of the fathers, stepfathers, grandfathers and father figures in the community who are modeling healthy father-child relationships. “Thanks for setting an example,” Director Al Grimes told the group. Other dads were recognized for completing fatherhood programs, teaching other new dads about the role, learning to braid for their children and running a baseball league. Christopher Kelly, another of the honorees, was recognized for being active in his 6-year-old son’s daycare, including becoming a parent ambassador, helping set policy and sitting on the board. The 42-year-old single father recalled the numerous Greyhound bus trips it took up to Niagra Falls to visit his youngest son, who had been placed in the foster system following maternal concerns, and to eventually bring him home to Cleveland. “I made it my business to get custody of him by any means possible,” said Kelly, who also has three older children. “Us, parents, have to be there for our children.” The conference also showcases resources and hosts workshops aimed at helping other attendees become strong fathers. Topics address some of the challenges fathers face with establishing paternity, applying for Medicaid and Medicare, paying child support or strengthening their parenting skills, so they can play a more active role in nurturing and raising their children. Studies have repeatedly shown that children with involved fathers have better outcomes. They’re healthier, perform better in school, and are less likely to use drugs, become teen parents or touch the criminal justice system. “Fathers matter. You matter,” as the day’s motto went. Yet, about 44% of Cuyahoga County children are growing up in a single-parent household, Grimes told cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer. The initiative aims to combat “father absence” through 11 year-round programs meant to change the narrative. There’s the Boot Camp for New Dads program at area hospitals. The Dads Count program provides free entrance to the Children’s Museum of Cleveland. Rising Above offers them workforce development and training. Fathers Walk is a one-day event encouraging dads to get more involved in their children’s schools. “We’re telling dads if you are involved, stay involved; if you’re not involved, get involved,” Grimes said. All the Fatherhood Initiative’s programs are free to parents, thanks to about $1 million in annual funding from the county. But Cuyahoga Councilwoman Meredith Turner indicated during the event that she’d like to see the county give more. “Al, you’ve been able to do so much with so little,” she addressed Grimes. “I’m going to try to change that.” Zearatus Perry knows firsthand how important that money could be. As a county social worker, he sees the impact absent fathers have on a household’s finances and on the youth’s development. He started referring dads to Grimes’ programs for help but wants to see more emphasis on placing youths with dads when they must be removed from their mother’s homes. The initiative recognized him as an exemplary father in 2007, when he won full custody of his 4-year-old son. Now that son is 22 and graduating from Ohio State University with a music education degree. The community needs to hear more of these success stories of fathers staying involved, and their children having good outcomes, Perry advocated. “We’re all a fan of fathers,” he said. “They deserve celebrating, and this is the time to do it.”
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