Families First is committed to strengthening families by developing parenting skills through culturally-sensitive, accessible and comprehensive programs, education and support for those who parent children.

Families First of Stark County, Inc. supports healthy families by enhancing parenting skills through education, mentoring, parent to parent support groups, and community resource connections.

 

In 2003, The Stark County Department of Job & Family Services indicated that there were 2,697 reports of child abuse and neglect. According to the United States Department of Health and Human Services, the perpetrator of fatal child abuse and neglect most frequently is a young adult in his or her mid-20s without a high school diploma, living at or below the poverty level, depressed, and who may have difficulty coping with stressful situations. In many instances, the perpetrator has experienced violence first-hand. These indicators are described below.

• According to the current Census Tract information (2003) for Stark County, there were 6,219 families with children under 18 years of age living at the poverty level: 4,556 of these families were headed by females without a husband present.
• Prevent Child Abuse America states that children living in families with annual incomes below $15,000 are 22 times more likely to be abused and 44 times more likely to be neglected than children living in families with annual incomes greater than $30,000.
• The National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy stated that teen mothers are less likely to complete high school (only one-third receive a high school diploma) and only 1.5% obtain a college degree by age 30. Teen mothers are more likely to end up on welfare (nearly 80 percent of unmarried teen mothers end up on welfare).

For more information on poverty thresholds, please visit: http://www.census.gov

• According to the National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy, the U.S. teen pregnancy rate for teens aged 15-19 decreased 28 percent between 1990 and 2000. After reaching 117 pregnancies per 1,000 females aged 15-19 in 1990, the pregnancy rate has decreased to 84 pregnancies per 1,000 females aged 15-19 in 2000. (Pregnancy data include births, abortions, and miscarriages.)
• The literature, Kids Having Kids: Economic Costs and Social Consequence , states the children of teenage mothers have lower birth weights, are more likely to perform poorly in school, and are at greater risk of abuse and neglect.
• The sons of teen mothers are 13 percent more likely to end up in prison while teen daughters are 22 percent more likely to become teen mothers themselves.
• The National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy stated, thirty-four percent of young women become pregnant at least once before they reach the age of 20 -- about 820,000 a year.

• Characteristics of many families receiving services from Families First include parents and children manifesting problems with self-esteem and other internal issues inhibiting their ability to stabilize their lives and keep their families intact. Many of the children suffer from low self-esteem and display symptoms of developmental delay, poor school performance, and severe behavioral problems. These children, at risk to a myriad of physical, emotional, and developmental problems, deserve and need comprehensive services that will support parents as they struggle with their own issues and work to keep their families together.

• Records at the Family Court in Stark County indicate that many mothers reported for child maltreatment were victims of incest, products of the welfare system, had some form of mental illness, 1-3 years of high school, and indicated problems with substance abuse.
  

Each program of Families First shares the overall goal of preventing child abuse and neglect in Stark County. Due to the specific needs of each targeted population (i.e. teen mothers, parents of children ages 0-12, minority parents, parents of teens) the program goals differ to offer effective comprehensive services.

H.U.G.S.: The goal of the HUGS program is to prevent child abuse and neglect of children ages 0-12. This is achieved through support, information, and education to parents, or any individual in a parenting role. Encouragement of healthy family growth and development is emphasized. Support, information and education is also offered to those individuals who are parents of teenagers.

Mother Mentor: The goal of the Mother Mentor program is to support pregnant and parenting Stark County teens through a one on one relationship with adults, parenting classes and Baby Item Give away.

Parents Anonymous®: The goal of the Parents Anonymous® program is to prevent child abuse and neglect through mutual support, shared leadership and personal growth. Groups are held weekly, throughout Stark County, and become a tool for resources within the community.

Minority Outreach: The goal of the Minority Outreach Program is to assist minority families with special parenting concerns of the minority population, with an emphasis on the roles of fathers in any family situation. Minority Outreach provides parenting education and support groups. Seminars can be constructed to meet individual needs.

In order to report the results of our evaluations to our funders, we conduct yearly status reports summarizing our progress. Families First of Stark County, Inc. currently receives funding from the following sources:

• United Way of Greater Stark County
• Ohio Children's Trust Fund (OCTF)
• Federal Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP)