CLEVELAND — Cuyahoga County’s Fatherhood Initiative continues to feature its Passages program, which helps fathers who are incarcerated in Ohio connect with their children.
At least a dozen men are currently enrolled in a four-week program that runs Monday through Thursday.
Brian Moore started the program and said many participants have had run-ins with the law.
"[The course] costs about $3,000 or so, for them to go to a correctional institution it cost $25,000," said Moore. “More than 90 percent of those individuals will return within two years."
Moore said attendees receive job training, and a better sense of self. Some of the men said they didn’t have a father example to follow.
"I'm the product of a single mom myself,” said Moore.
Participants like Ray McCloud have found it helpful.
"Any involvement at all will have a positive impact on the child,” said McCloud. "Being a parent makes you prayerful because all you can do is the best you can. We've been taught to be independent, to be strong. Most men that I know want to be a positive influence in their child's lives, they just don't know how. Without a father, you've got to find out about these things the hard way. Without that male influence there, you're walking around lost."
Moore said men wanting to participate can dial 211 for further information.
