Friends Outside in Los Angeles County (FOLA) was just notified of its largest grant award in the organization’s history – a $5,000,000 grant over a period of five years! The “New Pathways for Fathers and Families” grant was made by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Family Assistance. FOLA’s program, the Dads Back! Academy, is an incentivized comprehensive, community-based program for fathers who have been incarcerated in State or Federal prison or County jail, and have children/youth, ages 24 and younger. The target area will be South Los Angeles, including Watts, the Cities of Lynwood and Compton, and surrounding communities in Los Angeles County.
FOLA has been providing services for previously incarcerated individuals and their families since 1972 and has had offices in the service communities since 1990. FOLA will provide comprehensive services to promote responsible fatherhood, including activities that promote responsible parenting, economic stability and healthy marriage/ relationships.
Included amongst our partners are the East Los Angeles Women’s Center, America’s Job Centers, and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. A Dads Back! Alumni Council will assist with planning and on-going program development.
The program launch date is July, 2016. Watch for news about our Grand Opening!