PRESS RELEASE

 

Above: Fundamentals of Fatherhood participants engage in workshops and activities at program events.
The program, which launched in 2015 and supported thousands of fathers and father figures in Long Beach through free parenting education, mentorship, employment readiness and coaching, concluded on Sept. 30, 2025, following the expiration of federal grant funding.

Long Beach, CA – The Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services (Health Department) has concluded its Fundamentals of Fatherhood program following the expiration of federal grant funding administered by the Office of Family Assistance (OFA). The final day of service was Sept. 30, 2025.

Launched in 2015, the program has supported thousands of fathers and father figures in Long Beach through free parenting education, mentorship, employment readiness services and one-on-one coaching. Each year, the program served an average of 180 participants with a goal of strengthening parenting skills, economic stability and family relationships.

The approximately $10 million grant funded the majority of program services from September 2015 to September 2025, including parenting workshops, job support and case management. At the time of grant renewal, the program’s application received high marks for its approaches to promoting responsible parenting, promoting and sustaining healthy family relationships and fostering economic stability, as well as organizational capacity to deliver services and manage projects, performance and budget. Despite its strong performance, the program was not selected for continued funding. Its conclusion reflects a broader national trend as cities across the country experience reductions in family-strengthening programs due to the loss of key federal grants.

As a result, the following services are no longer offered:

• Parenting and Fatherhood Education: group classes and one-on-one sessions designed to help fathers develop parenting skills, communication strategies and positive discipline practices.
• Employment Readiness Support: job-seeking assistance, resume building and workforce development guidance tailored to fathers.
• Case Management and Referrals: individualized support to connect fathers with housing, health care, legal assistance and other vital resources.

Community members are encouraged to visit longbeach.gov/fatherhood to learn more about other local programs and services that support fathers and families. Available resources include:

• The East Los Angeles Women’s Center
• All4Kids Father Engagement Program
• Shields For Families
• Thriving Dads
• Healthy Relationships California
• Children’s Institute, Inc., Project Fatherhood
• Volunteers of America of Los Angeles (VOALA)
• Friends Outside in Los Angeles County

Community members who wish to help sustain local health and family services can make a tax-deductible donation to the Health and Human Services Fund through the Long Beach Community Foundation, which supports a variety of City health programs.

The conclusion of the Fundamentals of Fatherhood program did not result in any City staff layoffs; impacted staff were reassigned to other roles in the City or are currently pending reassignment.

Media inquiries may be directed to the Health Department’s Public Affairs Office at HE-PublicAffairs@longbeach.gov.