Milwaukee Co. receives massive $1.8 million grant for fatherhood program

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele announced on Father’s Day weekend that the Milwaukee County Child Support Services Department has received $1.8 million to continue its award winning fatherhood program.

A press release says Milwaukee County is the only Child Support agency in the country to receive this grant. The grant comes from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and funds the County’s Pathways to Responsible Fatherhood Program.
"This is another example of the work we are doing that is turning Milwaukee County around," said County Executive Chris Abele.

The County’s Pathways program started in 2012 and provides services like relationship education, parenting classes and job training for low income fathers in Milwaukee County, through partners including My Father’s House, Next Door Foundation, UMOS, Center for Self Sufficiency, and Centro Legal.  The extra year of funding will help reach an estimated 1,750 fathers.
"In the three years we’ve been running this program we’ve helped thousands of fathers connect with their sons and daughters," said Abele. "For every parent we can help reconnect with their child we increase the likelihood that child stays in school and out of trouble."

The press release says the Milwaukee County Child Support Services Department was named the department of the year in 2013 by the Wisconsin Child Support Enforcement Association. It was the first time Milwaukee County has won the award in the thirty years the award has been handed out.