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Fathers Uplift outlines outpatient clinic, licensure fellowship and reentry supports for Cincinnati fathers
Summary
Fathers Uplift told the Cincinnati Healthy Neighborhoods Committee it will open an outpatient clinic in Over-the-Rhine targeting fathers with mental-health and substance-use services, launch a clinician fellowship aimed at increasing BIPOC licensure pass rates, and start services this fall with an initial capacity of about 50 clients.
Fathers Uplift, a Boston-based nonprofit, told the Cincinnati Healthy Neighborhoods Committee it plans to open an outpatient mental-health and substance-use clinic for fathers in Over-the-Rhine and begin direct services in September, with an initial caseload target of about 50 clients.
The group described a model that pairs licensed clinical therapy with coaching and peer-based reentry supports for fathers returning from incarceration, and a workforce program—the United States Therapist Recruitment Fellowship—designed to increase the number of BIPOC clinicians who obtain licensure.
"Fathers Uplift, we are the country's first outpatient mental health and substance use treatment facility for fathers and their families," said Dr. Charles Daniels, the organization's CEO, during a presentation to the committee. Samantha Phils Daniels, the organization's COO, described the clinical and coaching mix the group will use to address trauma, housing and employment barriers.
Why it matters: presenters said Cincinnati, like other cities, faces a shortage of BIPOC mental-health clinicians and that fathers who lack supports are more likely to be disconnected from children, which local officials said can affect broader community outcomes. Fathers Uplift says its fellowship provides hands-on experience and licensure preparation; speakers gave a fellowship figure of $15,000 and said fellows who complete the program have a 72 percent first-time licensure pass rate compared with a 46.2 percent baseline cited by the presenters.
Details from the presentation and Q&A: - Services: individual and group therapy, coaching for housing, employment and court engagement, peer-support reentry groups called "homecoming reentry." Presenters said clinical services are typically six months to a year. - Capacity and timing: staff said the clinic will aim to start direct services in September and retain a smaller caseload in year one (about 50 clients) to allow time for trust-building and clinical work. - Workforce component: the $15,000 Therapist Recruitment Fellowship provides mentorship, workplace experience and licensure-prep support; presenters said fellows who go through the program have a higher pass rate for licensing exams. - Sustainability: presenters said services will be billed to health insurance where possible, and the nonprofit plans a mix of fee-for-service and philanthropy rather than sole reliance on grants. - Location: presenters said they signed a lease for office space in Over-the-Rhine and will host outreach events and a public drop-in virtual group (Tuesdays at 3 p.m.) before the clinic opens.
Committee members praised the targeted approach and asked about referral and partnership pathways. Dr. Daniels and Phils Daniels said the organization will work with local partners, universities and Greenlight Fund to recruit and refer participants.
No formal vote was required on the presentation; the committee accepted the presentation for filing by unanimous consent.
Presenters and staff repeatedly framed the initiative as adding a mental-health component to existing local fatherhood work rather than replacing current services. Presenters also flagged the national clinician shortage and licensure barriers as structural issues the fellowship seeks to address.
Looking ahead, presenters said they will announce outreach and an office-opening celebration in late summer and a September start date for clinical services.
