In honor of the 100th anniversary of Father’s Day, the Ohio Commission on Fatherhood and the Cuyahoga County Fatherhood Initiative are holding the first-ever Ohio Fatherhood Summit through Saturday at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Cleveland.

All events related to the summit are free and open to the public, including fatherhood workshops, a resource and job fair, awards honoring exemplary fathers, and a “Father & Family Day” at the Cleveland Zoo.

“This summit is more than a gift for your dad,” said Peter Lawson Jones, Cuyahoga County Commissioner, Chairman of the Ohio Commission on Fatherhood, a former member of the Ohio House of Representatives, and the author of the legislation that created the Ohio Commission on Fatherhood.

“It provides a unique opportunity for fathers from all backgrounds to celebrate and learn
about new programs and projects especially designed to make them better dads.”

Governor Strickland has proclaimed the entire month of June “Fathers’ Month in Ohio,” to raise awareness of the critical role fathers play in their children’s lives. The proclamation states, in part: “All fathers must emotionally and financially support their children. We, as a society, must promote involved, nurturing and responsible fatherhood.

Effective fathering during infancy, childhood and adolescence contributes to the development of a child’s emotional security and has overwhelmingly positive psychological and economic benefits for children, families, communities, our state and our nation. Good fathers, whether biological, foster or adoptive, deserve our honor and gratitude.”

The Ohio Commission on Fatherhood is housed within the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. Members are appointed by the governor, the speaker of the House, the president of the Senate and designated state agencies.

The commission’s goals are to increase public awareness of the critical role fathers play, prevent premature fatherhood, provide employment-related services to low income
fathers, and provide services to fathers who are inmates or have recently been released from incarceration so that they can maintain or reestablish relationships with their families.

To learn more about the commission, go to www.fatherhood.ohio.gov.

To learn more about the 2009Ohio Fatherhood Summit, go to www.fatherhoodinitiative.cuyahogacounty.us.

Father’s Day is Sunday.