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| Promoting Responsible Fatherhood | Federal Resource Site |
[Current Around the Regions]
[Links were valid as of 5/2003]
HHS and its Regional Offices are working to coordinate fatherhood activities throughout the states and have sponsored a variety of forums to bring together local public and private organizations and individuals to support fathers' involvement in their families and communities.
Additionally a growing number of states have state-wide fatherhood initiatives. Information on some of the private and public sector state-wide activities are provided for each region. Note that the designation "State of" or "Commonwealth of" means that the fatherhood initiative is a function of a State office or agency. State-wide initiatives without that designation have been initiated and implemented by the private sector. Such private initiatives are primarily funded through the private sector, but may also receive some state funding.
To find out what's happening in the area of fatherhood, as it relates to HHS programs, initiatives, and responsibilities and other activities in each region, please contact the designated regional HHS staff. You can click on the map below or the list of HHS Regions to jump to a particular Region.
[ Region 1 | Region 2 | Region 3 | Region 4 | Region 5 | Region 6 | Region 7 | Region 8 | Region 9 | Region 10 ]
Regional web pages: Click on the Region name below to go to the Region's web page.
Regional Directors: http://www.hhs.gov/iga/regions.html
State Child Support Offices: http://www.acf.dhhs.gov/programs/cse/extinf.htm#exta
Additional information on grants and projects supporting fatherhood activities are profiled in the federal guidance developed by six federal departments, Meeting the Challenge: What the Federal Government Can Do to Support Responsible Fatherhood Efforts. (See especially State Websites and Statewide Initiatives)
(Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont)
Hugh Galligan
Regional Administrator
Administration for Children and Families
John F. Kennedy Federal Building, Rm 2000
Government Center
Boston, MA 02203
Phone: 617-565-1020
Fax: 617-565-2493
The Northeast Hub implemented several activities as part of our initiative to engage our 16 states and jurisdictions in the Department’s Fatherhood Initiative. On November 7-8, 2001, in partnership with our colleagues in the Department of Labor Regions I, II, and III, we held a non-custodial parent (NCP)/welfare to work conference in Philadelphia. Approximately 180 people from across the Hub participated. The goal of the conference was to increase NCP involvement in welfare-to-work activities and identify model practices to assist in the recruitment of NCPs.
In January 2002, Region I staff visited the regional offices in New York and Philadelphia to provide training to Head Start and Child Support staff on the Good Guys in Head Start model and the Head Start/Early Head Start Self-Assessment Toolkit. The Good Guys program in Region I provides leadership and support for father and male involvement initiatives in the region’s Head Start and Early Head Start programs. The Self-Assessment Toolkit developed by Region I contains a section designed to help grantees begin to assess their father friendliness.
Region I hosted a meeting of the Hub’s Early Head Start Fatherhood Demonstration Project grantees on March 6, 2002 in Marlboro, MA. The purpose of the meeting was to provide an opportunity for these grantees to share program information, identify challenges encountered in implementing their projects, and receive additional TA. The meeting also introduced a discussion about how these projects might incorporate marriage education and marriage strengthening activities.
Hugh Galligan, the Region I Regional Administrator, represents ACF and participates in activities at the national level such as National Head Start Association events, national fatherhood conferences, and national workgroups addressing Access and Visitation, Child Support issues, and ACF’s healthy marriage priority. Mr. Galligan moderated the opening plenary for the fatherhood and male involvement special track at this year’s NHSA Annual Training Conference in April 2002 in Phoenix, AZ. He also presented at the 2nd Annual Southwest Fatherhood Conference in Mesa, AZ, in February 2002.
At the state level, the Regional Administrator played a key role in Massachusetts with the Governor’s Advisory Commission on Responsible Fatherhood and Family Support effort to develop a statewide plan for providing employment and parenting services to low-income noncustodial parents. Massachusetts currently funds projects using a combination of TANF and PIC resources.
Region I continues to provide leadership and support for father and male involvement projects in the region’s Head Start and Early Head Start programs through the Good Guys initiative. Currently, 82% of our Head Start and Early Head Start programs participate in Good Guys. Based on a survey conducted in September 2001, these Good Guys initiatives have both grown in number and evolved programmatically over time since the grant was first made available. The Regional Office has presented on successful Good Guys programs at national and regional Head Start conferences as well as at the regional child care administrators conference. A regional team that includes a Head Start director, a father advocate, and the fatherhood coordinator of a faith-based fatherhood program continue to provide peer to peer technical assistance to Head Start grantees in the region who want to make their agencies more father-friendly. Grantees’ experience with Good Guys also puts them in an excellent position to respond to the Head Start Bureau’s FY2002 special initiatives funding opportunity to increase the involvement of fathers in their Head Start program and as their child’s primary educator, particularly in the area of early literacy. On May 23-24, 2002, the fifth Early Head Start Quality Conference for the New England Region, entitled “Family Matter”, focuses on the importance of family roles, relationships and responsibilities, including highlighting the role of fathers and other male role models in the lives of infants and toddlers.
In collaboration with a local Head Start program, the National Fatherhood Initiative, National Practitioners Network for Fathers and Families, The Medical Foundation’s For Fathering Project, Father and Family Network of Rhode Island, Boston Children’s Hospital, MA Children’s Trust Fund, and the MA Child Support agency, Region I produced the Third Annual New England Fathering Conference – Building the Future of Fathering – on March 7-8, 2002. Dr. Wade Horn delivered the keynote address. This year’s conference also featured a special workshop track for fathers who are presently participating in a fathering program. Approximately 100 dads were nominated by their agency and received a scholarship to attend the conference. Participants from the Hub’s Early Head Start Fatherhood Demonstration meeting (described above) were also invited to attend.
The Regional Administrator gave opening remarks and moderate a workshop entitled “It Takes Two” at the Rhode Island Parent Information Network conference, Community Partnerships: A Model for Responsible Fatherhood, June 14,2002 in Warwick.
In collaboration with a local foundation, the MA Child Support agency and Departments of Education and Forests and Parks, and several corporate sponsors including local media outlets, banks and department stores, Region I produced the 5th Annual Dads Make a Difference celebration of fathering and families on Father’s Day, June 16, 2002, on the Boston Common. As in past years, the day featured free entertainment and fun educational activities, as well as resource displays for fathers and families in the metro Boston area. This year the event was coordinated with the 2002 prostate cancer walk. The Regional Office also supported similar events in several other New England communities, including Springfield and Worcester, Massachusetts, and Keene, New Hampshire.
Access and Visitation. Massachusetts provides unwed parents with courses in parenting education and on how to proceed through the court system. The expected outcome is that parenting plans will be developed by and for noncustodial and custodial parents. Contact Beth Winik at (617) 626-4182.
Access and Visitation. Rhode Island continues to provide court-based mediation programs and supervised visitation services that are scheduled to accommodate parents with traditional working hours. The Rhode Island Family Court is also planning to develop a brochure and educational video for children of divorced or separated parents that specifically address the realities of parental separation and offer suggestions for coping with a change in family structure. Contact George Dimuro at (401) 458-5320.
[ Go to Map ]
(New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico, and Virgin Islands)
Mary Ann Higgins
Northeast Hub Director
Department of Health and Human Services
Administration for Children and Families
26 Federal Plaza, Room 4114
New York, NY 10278
Phone: 212-264-2890, ext. 103
Fax: 212-264-4826
One of the issues discussed was the difficulty encountered by the men enrolled in the fatherhood programs in finding training and employment opportunities. Hub child support staff agreed to hold a follow-up meeting with these grantees and their WTW/WIA counterparts to facilitate partnership and collaboration. Staff is currently planning this meeting.
Workshop presentations will demonstrate how these ACF initiatives can be incorporated into existing programs such as TANF, Child Support, Head Start, OCS, and Child Welfare and Youth. We anticipate 350 participants, including state agency TANF commissioners, directors and practitioners as well as faith-based and community-based service providers.
There will also be a plenary session on "ACF's agenda: faith-based/community initiatives and positive youth development" where key Central Office figures will speak and a closing luncheon where renowned author Frank Pittman will discuss "how to be happy, grown up, and married, all at the same time". For more information contact Elizabeth Bennett at (212) 264-2890 x114 or Robin Dade at (301) 270-0841 x217, email: rdade@afyainc.com
Access and Visitation. New Jersey established a Child Access and Parenting Time (Visitation) Advisory Group to address access and parenting needs of children of unwed, divorced, or separated parents. This on-going advisory group recently developed a pamphlet entitled "Parenting Time: A Child's Right" which will be distributed to all county courthouses as well as local police stations. The activities of the advisory group are in addition to the provision of specific access & visitation programs including mediation, parent education, children's programs, supervised parenting time, neutral drop-off/pick-up, and site and therapeutic services. Contact Mary DeLeo at (609) 984-7793.
The following are several Work First New Jersey (WFNJ) TANF program activities that encourage the formation and maintenance of two-parent families:
WFNJ Step Parent Provision
In WFNJ, individuals who marry cash assistance recipients are not held financially responsible for the recipient's children. This promotes marriage and stabilizes families.
WFNJ Faith-Based Initiative
New Jersey is taking advantage of the valuable resources that lie within local communities by forming a close alliance with houses of worship and other faith-based organizations. Through the WFNJ Faith-based Organizations Task Force, we are working to expand the support base that is available for families.
Through a statewide survey conducted of more than 6,000 religious congregations and houses of worship, the task force has developed an inventory of the nature and extent of social services which they provide to New Jersey's welfare population and the working poor. Ongoing efforts are directed toward assisting the faith community in enhancing or expanding available supports to families in need, in coordination with a broad network of government and private-sector service providers. Faith-based activities are provided for families with income of less than 250 percent of the Federal Poverty Level.
Operation Fatherhood
New Jersey's efforts in the area of absent parents includes, but is not limited to:
Work will be done with the prisons and county jails as well as inner city community groups to reach the non-custodial parents.
The goal of this effort is not only to assist absent parents to meet their child support obligations but to enable them to become meaningful, active and positive participants in their children's lives. This will be achieved by engaging these individuals in improvement activities on both the employment and personal levels. Fatherhood initiatives for cash assistance recipients who are absent fathers and members of WFNJ/TANF families are funded through Federal TANF and State MOE.
Services for non-custodial fathers who are not members of the WFNJ/TANF family are funded with State only funds.
New Jersey Earned Income Tax Program
New Jersey has enacted legislation (P.L. 2000, c.80, enacted August 14, 2000) to establish a New Jersey Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) program. This program will further promote work and job retention by supplementing the incomes of low-income working families as they move up the career ladder and remain independent from public assistance. For purposes of the New Jersey Earned Income Tax Program and claiming of State MOE funds, the definition of a "qualifying child" parallels that found in the Internal Revenue Code used for Federal Income Tax reporting purposes. The New Jersey EITC program is available to families with annual earned incomes of $20,000 or less.
NJ Individual Development Account (IDA) Program
The NJ Individual Development Account (IDA) Program is being operated in conjunction with the Department of Community Affairs and its designated entities. NJ IDAs are being made available to both TANF and post-TANF recipients whose incomes are below 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Level. Client contributions are matched dollar for dollar up to specific amounts yearly for the purpose of saving for costs of a primary residence, post-secondary education and qualified business capitalization. Parallel to the savings process, participants are required to attend a basic financial education course and an asset specific training program.
Supporting Two-Parent Families
New Jersey operates a comprehensive state-funded program to support marriage and two-parent families by providing the same services and employment and work activities as those provided to TANF eligible families. Non-financial and financial eligibility is consistent with federal TANF and WFNJ criteria.
Access and Visitation. New York intends to fund local proposals for a wide range of access and visitation services. The State will also use TANF funds to jointly fund job and child access services to assist low-income, noncustodial parents fulfill their child support obligations. Contact Judith Smith at (518) 486-4611.
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(Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia)
Juanita DeVine
Regional Program Manager for Child Support Enforcement
Department of Health and Human Services
Administration for Children and Families
150 S. Independence Mall West, Suite 864
Philadelphia, PA 19106-3499
Phone: 215-861-4054
Fax: 215-861-4070
The Northeast Hub is sponsoring a conference entitled “Strengthening and Enhancing Family Life” on August 13 and 14, 2002, in Philadelphia, PA. The conference will focus on strengthening healthy marriages, fatherhood, positive youth development, and faith-based support of these initiatives. Workshop presentations will demonstrate how these ACF initiatives can be incorporated into existing programs such as TANF, Child Support, Head Start, OCS, and Child Welfare and Youth. We anticipate 350 participants, including state agency TANF commissioners, directors and practitioners as well as faith-based and community-based service providers. For more information contact Elizabeth Bennett at (212) 264-2890 x114 or Robin Dade at (301) 270-0841 x217, email: rdade@afyainc.com. The Northeast Hub covers the states/territories of Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Virgin Islands, and West Virginia.
In May 2001, Region III staff conducted a workshop at The International Fatherhood Conference in New York, NY sponsored by the National Center for Strategic Nonprofit Planning and Community Leadership (NPCL). The workshop titled, Child Support 101: Part II, was designed to provide in-depth information overview of the child support enforcement system for fatherhood program administrators and participants. Region III developed case scenarios and mock child support guidelines for participants to walk through child support cases and to develop mock child support orders using various guideline formulas.
On November 7 and 8, 2001 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the ACF Northeast Hub conceptualized and sponsored with DOL a conference, Welfare to Work & Child Support Working Together to Make a Difference for Children, which promoted the Fatherhood Initiative by focusing on the referral of NCPs to WtW programs and related services. The goals were to explore collaborative strategies which will increase economic independence and productivity for families as well as to enhance partnership between DOL WtW entities and Child Support Agencies to facilitate referrals of NCPs to WtW programs. The Northeast Hub views this conference not primarily as a WtW initiative, but as a fatherhood initiative. Increasing child support payments, providing an opportunity to begin paying where there previously was no payment, access and visitation, the enhanced self-image accruing to the father who is more involved in the life of the child and the concomitant benefit of a child knowing his father is indeed involved, all speak to the core of the fatherhood initiative which is to increase the presence of the father in the child's life.
At the National Child Support Enforcement Association's Mid-Year Policy Forum convened in February 2000, Region III CSE participated with WtW on a panel entitled, "Welfare to Work: Up from Poverty". This forum provided an opportunity to present to a national audience those issues related to employment and non custodial parents previously discussed at the ACF Northeast Hub/DOL conference, Welfare to Work & Child Support Working Together to Make a Difference for Children. The presentation included a discussion on strategies for developing relationships with the Welfare to Work programs to maximize participation of non-custodial parents.
Since November 2001, Region III has participated on the Planning Committee for the Philadelphia Mayor's Office of Community Services in structuring the Fatherhood Initiative Program. This Committee, comprised of representatives from several agencies providing an array of services to men residing in the Greater Philadelphia area, collaborated with the National Fatherhood Initiative and developed the format for the Fatherhood Initiative Forum which convened on April 13, 2002. A workshop on the Federal Perspective and the operation of the Pennsylvania Child Support Enforcement Program was conducted by Region III in concert with the Pennsylvania Bureau of Child Support Enforcement and the Philadelphia Family Court.
Access and Visitation. Delaware has established special visitation centers where parents can safely exchange children and where visitation with conflicted cases can be monitored and supervised. Delaware is also considering telephone or teleconferencing with children and their incarcerated parents. Contact Cynthia Lovell at (302) 577-4955x262.
Access and Visitation. The District of Columbia provides a hotline for parents with access and visitation problems to provide them with education and information materials and service referrals that will help solve their parenting problems. Contact Laurie Ensworth at (202) 724-2114.
TANF: The District of Columbia (DC) Department of Human Services (DHS) recognizes the significant barriers to responsible fatherhood and is immediately beginning to address them by drawing in critical partners with the experience and expertise for developing successful father-focused programs. Principal partners include the National Center for Strategic Nonprofit Planning and Community Leadership (NPCL), and the National Practitioners Network for Fathers and Families, Inc. (NPNFF).
DHS will roll out the full-fledged District of Columbia Fatherhood Initiative (DCFI) at the NPCL’s fourth annual International Fatherhood Conference co-sponsored by the District, on May 27-29, 2002. This conference will include practitioners from all over the world who will focus on service delivery that incorporates the goals of the NPCL. Because of the vast experience and wealth of information within the NPCL, the DHS will engage the organization as its primary partner in planning, developing and implementing the DCFI. The NPCL assist the District in organizing all essential partners in both the public and private sector, solicit financial support from private entities who are committed to this national initiative.
DHS believes that the District’s children will benefit from parents who are actively involved in their lives and mutually responsible for loving nurturing, supporting and protecting them. Other critical partners who will be engaged by DHS are the Center for Workforce Development, the Center for Study of Social Policy, the National Practitioners Network for Fathers and Families and the National Fatherhood Initiative.
The District of Columbia Child Support Enforcement Division (DCCSED) has been collaborating with the National Association of Black in Criminal Justice (NABCJ). This organization is a group of criminal justice professionals and community leaders dedicated to improving the administration of justice. NABCJ has published a technical training guide to be used by faith and community based groups in mentoring ex-offenders and their children. This organization can be contacted via their website: www.NABCJ.org.
In February 2002, DCCSED and Johnson Memorial Baptist Church partnered to serve incarcerated men that will be placed at the church parish. The inmates will be counseled by the church three months before released from the correctional institution. Inmates with child support cases will be referred to DCCSED.
On January 18, 2002, CSED met with a number of agencies and CBOs that provide services to defendants in child support cases, to begin the process of formalizing our cooperation in this area. Various organizations, operating under grants from the federal Department of Labor, now sign responsibility agreements with parents who want to help to bring up their children, and assist these parents by providing counseling while pursing employment opportunities and needed services. CSED has begun to join in with such agreements, and expects to continue to do as a matter of course wherever possible. This meeting was the follow-up from Region III and the Department of Labor conference in November 2001.
Access and Visitation. Maryland provides a mix of services through community-based organizations such as mediation, counseling, design of alternative custody arrangements, as well, as supervised and neutral drop-off and pickup sites. In some cases, these programs are used in conjunction with job services to provide comprehensive responsible fatherhood projects. Contact Donna Sims at (410) 767-7876.
TANF. Maryland's Young Fathers Responsible Fathers Programs (YFRF) is one of six father-focused initiatives in the State. The YFRP program does not provide financial assistance. However, it does provide services to custodial and noncustodial fathers such as parenting, education, family planning, GED instruction, job training, employment-search assistance, and self-esteem building. The program has seven sites in six counties and one located in Baltimore that serves young fathers, age 16 and up, who have one or more children. YFRF programs also encourage co-parenting for noncustodial fathers.
In addition, Maryland's Youthbuild Sandtown Program (YSP), a subsidiary of Youthbuild USA, serves low-income at-risk youth, ages 16-24, in the West Baltimore Sandtown community. The program has a requirement that 25 percent of its program participants must be female. Seventy-five percent of the participants are school dropouts, teenage parents, single parents, noncustodial fathers or juvenile offenders who are given a second chance. Nationally, the Youthbuild program model has an 86 percent success rate with graduates going to college, and into the labor force earning an average of $11 an hour. The purpose of the program is to enhance the motivation, performance, and self-esteem of youth, and is thus reasonably calculated to achieve the third goal of the TANF law, the reduction of out of wedlock pregnancies.
To increase effort, educate the community regarding the importance of fathers in children’s lives, and to advertise the services it provides to fathers. The program serves non-custodial fathers who are involved with Child Support Enforcement to establish paternity, develop child support orders, pay child support, secure employment, and mediate visitation plans.
The Fatherhood For Now program manager is facilitating a bi-monthly young fathers support group at Colonel Richardson High School. The goal of the program is to encourage those fathers not to father additional children until they are financially and emotionally ready. The curriculum teaches life skills and encourages those fathers to be involved in the life of their child(ren).
The Fatherhood For Now program manager and a Regional Mid-Shore Mental Health Services counselor facilitate a bi-monthly pre-release support group in detention with fathers scheduled to be released within 90 days. Each father received a $10.00 debit card at Wal-Mart for each session they attend. The goal of the program is to help inmates mentally prepare to meet the many challenges they will face when they return to their communities. They are referred to resources in the community to help them overcome their stated concerns/issues. He also facilitates a monthly support group in detention for any interested male.
The Fatherhood For Now program manager in conjunction with the DADS (Dads All Deserve Support) Support Group initiated a t-shirt essay in Caroline County Public Schools. Principals were asked to allow their student body to write essays about their fathers’ involvement in their lives and community involvement. The winners received a t-shirt and certificate. Some of the runners up received certificates. The t-shirt has a picture of a child sitting on a father’s shoulder on the front with the caption “Caught in the Act of Being a Great Dad.” On the back of the shirt are the words “A hundred years from now it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of house I lived in, or the kind of car I drove … but the world may be different because I was important in the life of a child".
The Fatherhood For Now program manager is a volunteer monitor for the University of Maryland Cooperative Extension 4-H sponsored Dads Make a Difference Program. The program is a service-learning opportunity for teens dealing with fatherhood, parenting, and sexual responsibility. It is paternity education project where interested teens, learn and teach middle school-age youth about the importance of fathers in children’s lives.
Services to Ex-Offenders. The Maryland Child Support Enforcement Administration (CSEA) is working with the Department of Corrections on a computer interface, which will identify non-custodial parents in state prisons, their expected release dates and specific locations, etc. This will enable CSEA to partner with competitive grantees providing services to ex-offenders coming back into the community. The plan is to identify which of these parents qualify for WtW funding due to a connection with a TANF child so that services can be offered both pre-release and post release. CSEA and the community partners will be seeking a federal grant to help set up a special unit within CSEA to provide case management services to these parents in order to handle their cases. The goal is to contribute to their success during transition into the community and not impede it by certain enforcement activities during reintegration.
State Owed Child Support Arrears Leveraging Program. This program provides opportunities for non-custodial parents (NCPs), who owe child support arrears to the State, to have arrears credited in meeting program criteria. NCPs who successfully complete the program requirements of the community-based organizations involved in the project, and who also pay the current child support obligation(s), are eligible to have a portion of the arrears owed to the State credited to them. In May 2002, an event has been scheduled at the Baltimore City Court for the first 30 graduates of the program, approving the partial satisfaction of 25% of the State owed arrears. These participants were fathers with multiple barriers, serviced through community based organizations, who received rehabilitation and work ready services. Participating associates in support of this effort are Baltimore City Department of Social Services Young Fathers/Responsible Fathers Program, Christopher’s Place Employment Academy, the Center for Fathers, Families and Workforce Development, the Empower Baltimore Management Corporation, and the Baltimore City Office of Child Support Enforcement represented by MAXIMUS Corporation.
(State of) Maryland Fatherhood Initiative
Phone: 410-767-4982
http://www.FatherhoodMD.org
The Maryland Department of Human Resources oversees several fatherhood programs to support strong and healthy fathers. The Baltimore Partners for Fragile Families is one of ten national demonstration sites to serve low-income fathers and families who are at risk of welfare dependency. Dad’s Make a Difference is a project aimed to educate youth about the importance of fathers in children’s lives, parental responsibility and deferring parenthood until they are financially and emotionally ready. Maryland’s Access and Visitation Program provides services through non-profit organizations, local department of social services and family courts. Its aim is to focus on advocacy and services for non-custodial fathers including mediated visitation, neutral drop off centers, counseling services, support group activities and parenting contract development. The Responsible Choices Demonstration Project provides home visitation services to young first-time unmarried parents and two-parent families. Participants receive parenting courses, counseling, educational and job skills assistance. The Responsible Fatherhood Demonstration Project provides services to low income, non-custodial fathers of families who are receiving or at risk of receiving temporary cash assistance or other social services. It offers assistance in job skill enhancement, parenting courses, problem resolution and co-parenting skills. The Young Fathers-Responsible Fathers Program provides services to young unwed or expectant fathers. Services address participant educational, vocational, social, emotional and mental health issues. Dads All Deserve Support (DADS) is a group designed to actively support fathers and soon to be fathers in their various roles as a caring adult. This activity-based program looks to connect men with any services necessary to become and remain positive community models.
(Commonwealth of) Pennsylvania Fatherhood Initiative
Bob Randall, Pennsylvania Fatherhood Coordinator
Phone: 1-866-MY-PA-DAD (toll free)
http://sites.state.pa.us/fatherhood.html
The Department of Public Welfare’s (DPW) Single Point of Contact/Pregnant and Parenting Youth program provides services to teen fathers. Non-custodial dads, ages 18-22, whose children are on welfare, can receive job training, parenting skills and help earn their GED. DPW is developing fatherhood programs at eight to 10 Family Centers around the State to provide non-custodial fathers with education and employment services, peer counseling, parenting and life skills training. The DPW uses its Access and Visitation grants to enhance the opportunity for personal contact between non-custodial fathers and their children. The Domestic Relations Section of the Courts administers the funds and awards funds through competitive bids to local organizations. The goals are to strengthen the relationship between non-custodial parents and their children, to increase child support payments, and to unify families. Services include mediation, counseling, education, development of parenting plans, and visitation services. Twenty-eight Private Industry Councils across the State use a portion of their Welfare-to-Work grants to offer employment, retention, advancement and training services for non-custodial parents.
The Pennsylvania Fatherhood Initiative includes a number of initiatives aimed at empowering individuals and building communities at the grassroots level. The Pennsylvania Parenting Program (PPP) is a key component of the Pennsylvania Fatherhood Initiative. Projects funded through the PPP grant program, which is funded totally with State dollars, are designed to complement the existing Federal Access and Visitation Grant programs. Monies awarded are used to: increase noncustodial parents' involvement with their children; improve their parenting skills; increase payment of child support; provide supportive services to parents; and unify families. Services can include peer-mentoring, parenting, life-skills and employment training, legal services and other family assistance. Other departmental initiatives can be viewed on the fatherhood website under the Department of Education, Department of Health, Department of Corrections and Board of Probation and Parole, Department of Community and Economic Development, and the Department of Labor and Industry.
TANF: Pennsylvania has been providing intensive case management services, repeat pregnancy prevention, parenting and child development education, homework and tutoring assistance, and other supports that have enabled tens of thousands of expectant and parenting children to stay in school and receive their high school diploma or GED. These and other services have been offered through the Education Leading to Employment and Training (ELECT) Program.
The ELECT Program has been in existence for over ten years. In that time, it was expanded to include:
EFI began in January 2000 as part of the Governor’s Fatherhood Initiatives. It provides services to expectant, custodial and non-custodial fathers. In addition to all services provided through the ELECT Program, this initiative provides young fathers with the opportunity to be mentored by positive male role models who assist them in becoming responsible parents and contributing members of their communities. EFI also provides services such as “Dr. Dad” courses, fatherhood support groups, anger management sessions and denial skills training. In fiscal year 2000-01, it provided services to 369 fathers and was successful in assisting 87.5% of the seniors to graduate.
The EFW Initiative began in April 2000. This initiative extended ELECT services to expectant, custodial and non-custodial parents whose income was under 235 % FPIG and who were not receiving Temporary Assistance to Needy Families cash assistance benefits. In Fiscal year 2000-01, ELECT and EFW provided services to 2035 young parents. Approximately 85.1% of the seniors, participating in these two initiatives, graduated or returned to school to complete their education.
In January 2001, the ELECT Program was again expanded to provide after school programming for at risk students in grades 4 through 12. This initiative, called ESW, is being piloted in four Local Education Agencies across the state. It provides after school programming, which assists children in reducing and eliminating risky behaviors, and in improving their school attendance and performance. It also provides homework assistance, recreation and sports activities, and age appropriate pregnancy prevention and denial skills training. ESW has been so well received that over 1440 of its 2000 available slots were filled in its first two weeks of operation.
In addition to helping young parents to remain in school and obtain their high school diploma, the ELECT Initiatives have been instrumental in assisting Pennsylvania in reducing out of wedlock pregnancies, helping young fathers to establish paternity, and promoting the formation of two-parent families.
Partners for Fragile Families Child Demonstration/ Project Chester County Family Matters Program. The Administration for Children and Families approved the Chester County, Pennsylvania proposal for a Partners for Fragile Families child support waiver demonstration project under Section 1115 of the Social Security Act. The Chester County Demonstration Project, known as the Family Matters Program, is a collaborative effort involving the Chester County Domestic Relations Section, the Chester County Housing Development Corporation, and the Housing Authority of the County of Chester. The program is designed to serve low-income, noncustodial, never-married fathers, between the ages of 16-25. The services offered under the program include: case management; education; fatherhood development; substance abuse treatment as needed; legal assistance; financial planning skill education; employment services; child support services; and parenting skill building.
The collaborating organizations share a mutual goal to provide a wide range of supportive services for low and very low-income noncustodial fathers and their families, as deemed appropriate and necessary based on the availability of resources. The ultimate goal of the partnership is to increase child support and to strengthen the positive influence of fathers in the lives of their children.
Allegheny County. This program is designed to facilitate gainful employment of non-custodial parents (NCPs) and encourage regular child support payments over a significant period of time. By doing so, families of non-custodial Welfare recipients will benefit financially and should move off welfare more rapidly. To assist NCPs, the Goodwill Foundation will pay a percentage of the participant's arrears as they complete significant program benchmarks toward employment and compliance with child support obligations. The maximum grant is $5,000. In addition, the child support order can be modified during the enrollment period prior to employment to assist participants with successful completion of the program. Most NCPs will participate for a minimum of 25 hours per week for a maximum of six months (or until full-time employment is achieved). Specific activities include: Objective Assessment and Individual Service Strategy Development; Parenting and Life Skills Training; Adult Basic Education and G.E.D. Instruction; Job Search/Job Placement Assistance; Driver's Education and Acquisition of a vehicle as needed for employment purposes through Goodwill's auto auction; Case Management; Short-term training (employer specific/entrepreneurial); Post-Employment Career development; and Mental Health/Drug and Alcohol Assessment. Twenty participants were enrolled in the program. As of 12/31/00, 2 have completed the program, 14 are actively participating and 4 were terminated for non-compliance. Fifteen participants are currently employed with a mean wage per hour of $7.74.
Erie County. In September of 1994, the Training Employment Project (TEP) was institutionalized to provide training and employment opportunities to absent parents so: defendants can meet their support obligation in a timely fashion; a positive attitude can be nourished through the maintenance of viable employment, which may improve the lifestyle of children in the community; the community will benefit from a work force able to contribute to society; time and money is saved in the ability to effectively measure a "good faith" effort in obtaining employment so an Order for Support can be entered and enforced. The success rate at this time is 100%.
This Program operates at no additional cost to the taxpayers. Erie County DRS did not hire an additional officer to staff the TEP program ... it is a specialty added to the duties of a conference/enforcement officer. Administratively speaking, this program saves the County of Erie money because our caseload is streamlined. Businesses involved in the program hire our defendants that were Court Ordered to appear for assessment and employment. If our defendants refuse employment, do not appear, are tardy, or disrupt the operation of a company, they will be brought before the court for contempt. The DRS has a good working relationship with the Community Service Program operated by the Erie County Adult Probation/Parole Department. If the defendants refuse to work for a wage to pay child support, we have deterred apathy by giving them the opportunity to work for nothing. It is a successful form of therapy.
In another initiative, Erie County DRS formed a partnership with the Fathers Workshop in 1998 in an effort to help incarcerated fathers interact effectively with their children. Using a support system provided by the Fathers Workshop, the goal is to change attitudes and behaviors and the established pattern of willful failure to pay support may be reversed. In November of 1998, as a collaborative program, DRS began serving as a conduit between the Work Release Program, the Fathers Workshop, and the Court in suspending sentences for DRS defendants if they pay: a) support as ordered for 60 days; b) rent to Work Release and abide by their regulations, c) cost and fees; and, d) participate immediately with the Fathers Workshop and for sixty days (and continue to do so for a total of six months once released).
In Contempt Court, the Judge offers the privilege of early release if defendants honor the conditions. After sixty days lapsed, a Work Release Representative sends DRS a form statement claiming that all the conditions were met in their facilities. If support was paid as ordered, an Early Release would be processed. The case would be monitored and if the defendant would default, they would be apprehended and imprisoned to serve the remainder of his term. There are no second chances in the Early Release Program.
The goal of the program was projected at "70 % of those who complete the program will result in 100% collection of child support." DRS will measure the success of the program through pre and post assessment using the Monthly Support Order and over-due support from the date fathers became enrolled with the program and over-due support one year later. It is too early to measure the success of the program because it is still in an infancy stage; however, it does serve as a vehicle to free space for defendants from other areas of the Court. Published percentages of the effectiveness of the Fathers Workshop will be available in July of 2001.
The Fathers Workshop and the Training Employment Program are carefully coordinated to ensure favorable results.
Huntingdon County. Utilizing the automated system (PASCES), the Domestic Relations Section identifies cases eligible for referral to the Welfare to Work program. These clients are given a choice of a monetary order or registering with work programs. Directly following the meeting with the Hearing Officer, the client meets with caseworkers who carefully explain the Order. The client has an opportunity to immediately appeal the order. If the client chooses to register with a work program, and is not eligible for the Welfare to Work program, there is a referral to other contracted programs (OVR, SPOC, Up Front etc.).
Strong individual case management and collaboration with the Welfare to Work Program, the County Judge and the County Assistance Office are keys to the success of this program. Through this program, both the NCP and CP can obtain the same benefits to education, training, re-training and re-direction into the job market.
Philadelphia County. The Networking for Jobs Program (NJP) is a Family Court initiative designed to provide access to job training and employment opportunities for those least able to obtain these services on their own. The main focus of NJP is to link unemployed, noncustodial parents (NCPs) with at least one child with an active TANF case with the resources they need to enable the NCP to become self-sufficient and better able to pay their support obligations. Although primarily aimed at NCPs with children on welfare, NJP also has limited resources available to non-welfare custodial and non-custodial parents. The Networking for Jobs Program provides parents with: coordinated, comprehensive job training; identification of jobs resources; job banks and information referral systems; assistance in job application and resume preparation; mentoring and support services; alternatives to criminal and delinquent behavior.
The objectives of the Networking for Jobs Program: Change Attitudes; Develop Marketable Jobs Skills; Enable Employment; Increase Amount and Regularity of Child Support Payments.
The VA Department of Public Health has instituted a campaign to encourage men to "be a good dad". The State conducted focus groups with fathers to determine what kinds of materials and media coverage would be most effective. Fathers said they wanted to see ordinary men like themselves. Virginia has designed their public service announcement around the average dad, and has distributed their materials at sporting events, barber shops and other places that young men frequent. There is ongoing collaboration between the Division of Child Support Enforcement, within the Department of Social Services, and the Commonwealth's Fatherhood Campaign.
Access and Visitation. Virginia opts to administer its program through local government and non-profit private agencies. Services provided to parents include mediation, supervised visitation, and parenting education. Development of parenting plans is the expectation from these projects. Contact Bob Owen at 804-692-2407 or email: CRO900@dcse.dss.state.va.us.
TANF. Virginia is using TANF funds to operate its Right Choices for Youth (RCFY) Program, the Opportunity Knocks Program, and the Economic Employment Improvement.
Right Choices for Youth: The overall mission of this initiative is to promote, coordinate, develop and distribute educational and resource elements within the Commonwealth of Virginia that allow young people to make right choices and to avoid risk behaviors in a comprehensive manner, particularly those risks from alcohol, tobacco and drug use and engaging in early sexual activity and violent behavior.
The objective is to build the capacity of state, public and private entities to work with regional, community/local entities to implement and carry out comprehensive youth risk behavior prevention programs. These programs may include, but are not limited to, mentoring, life skills, job preparation/career development, social skills and abstinence education. Their focus includes strengthening of parent-child communications, promotion and enhancement of marriage and the marital relationship, promotion of responsible and involved fatherhood and development of parenting skills.
The Virginia Department of Health has been designated as the lead agency for this initiative. The initiative provides non-assistance services and benefits related to TANF purposes 3 (prevent and reduce out-of-wedlock pregnancies) and 4 (encourage the formation and maintenance of two-parent families).
Funding is from the Federal TANF grant. The program targets middle and high school youth and adults who influence the youth population. This program is available to all citizens of Virginia without regard to family status or income.
For more information on this program contact Mark Golden, TANF Program Manager, at (804) 692-1731 or mxg2@eamil1.dss.state.va.us.
Opportunity Knocks Program: This program is designed to improve the employability of disadvantaged persons through education and skills training. Services provided by grantees include training programs designed to meet specific employer needs, possible wage paying activities and employment and career paths that provide higher paying wages and benefits. The training programs also include job training, work-study, internship, apprenticeship, job shadowing and pert-time employment. The goal is to provide transitional assistance, which moves individuals into lasting unsubsidized employment leading to economic self-sufficiency.
The program provides non-assistance services and benefits related to TANF purpose 2 (end dependence of needy parents on government benefits by promoting job preparation, work and marriage). Funding is from the Federal TANF grant. The program will augment educational and employment options available to disadvantaged youth and those at-risk (ages 18-25). Individuals must be TANF recipients or qualify as TANF eligible – income not to exceed 200% of FPL (including non-custodial parents). An RFP was issued statewide. The program operates in the following sites:
For more information on this program contact Faye Palmer, Welfare to Work Manager, at (804) 692-1065 or afp900@email1.dss.state.va.us.
Economic Employment Improvement Program for Disadvantaged Persons: This program is designed to improve the employability of disadvantaged persons returning to the community from federal and state correctional facilities, the chronically unemployed and those displaced by technical advances in industry. Services provided by grantees include training programs designed to meet specific employer needs, possible wage paying activities and employment and career paths that provide higher paying wages and benefits. The training programs also include job training, work-study, internship, apprenticeship, job shadowing and pert-time employment. The goal is to provide transitional assistance, which moves individuals into lasting unsubsidized employment leading to economic self-sufficiency.
The program provides non-assistance services and benefits related to TANF purpose 2 (end dependence of needy parents on government benefits by promoting job preparation, work and marriage). Individuals must be TANF recipients or qualify as TANF eligible — income not to exceed 200% of FPL (including non-custodial parents). An RFP was issued statewide. The program operates in the following sites:
For more information on this program contact Faye Palmer, Welfare to Work Manager, at (804) 692-1065 or afp900@email1.dss.state.va.us.
The Virginia Fatherhood Campaign (VFC)
Division of Child Support Enforcement (DCSE)
Access and Visitation. West Virginia commissioned a statewide survey of noncustodial parents as a way to ascertain the barriers to child access and visitation. Summary results of the survey indicated that visitation might be easier to expedite if there were more educational resources available to noncustodial and custodial parents regarding visitation rights, in addition, to the opportunity for voluntarily negotiating a parenting agreement as an alternative to court. The need for supervised visitation and neutral drop-off and pick-up sites were also reported. Contact Susan Perry at (304) 558-0909.
Child Support and TANF
The West Virginia Bureau for Child Support Enforcement (BCSE), WV Bureau for Children and Families (TANF), WV Bureau for Employment Programs (BEP), the Human Resource Development Foundation, and the Domestic Violence Coalition have formed a partnership to fund and support a pilot initiative called Parents Work/Families Win. Parents Work/Families Win Program is operated by Human Resource Development Foundation and is designed to assist unemployed and/or under-employed individuals to obtain employment that will enable them to meet their child support obligations and develop strong, positive relationships with their children.
In September 2000, the West Virginia Bureau for Child Support Enforcement (BCSE) entered into a cooperative agreement with BEP and HRDF. This agreement allows the BCSE to provide a list of non-custodial parents who may be eligible for the program. Non-custodial parents must have a child who is eligible for TANF, Food Stamps, Medicaid, Social Security or Children's Health Insurance Program, and owe $500.00 or more in arrears to be eligible for the program. Eligible participants will be offered assistance with employment, transportation, special needs, car repairs and insurance, professional licenses, counseling and relocation services if necessary. Parents Work/ Families Win actually kicked off in January 2001 and is being piloted in Preston, Monongalia, Raleigh and Wyoming counties. As of March 2002, Parents Work/Families Win is operating in four additional counties – Marion, Harrison, Fayette, and Mercer.
The initial goal was to serve fifty non-custodial parents. As of March 8, 2002, fifty-seven non-custodial parents were actually served. Ten of the fifty-seven exited (refused to participate) the program, one requested an extension due to extenuating circumstances, twenty-six are in training/seeking employment, twenty have obtained employment, and twenty-one paid child support averaging $129.92.
Human Resource Development Foundation has received an extension on the grant, which will allow the program to operate until June 2002. At that time, the program will end unless they are able to secure additional funding.
In addition to PWFW, BSCE is also working with New Connections, a local non-profit group, to provide paternity and child support education to young fathers in a friendly, non-threatening environment. These consultations are provided upon request. To date, West Virginia has conducted four sessions with young fathers, approximately, once a quarter.
The WV Bureau for Child Support Enforcement signed a cooperative agreement with Northern Panhandle Workforce Investment Board, Inc. for Welfare to Work for non-custodial parents. This agreement covers Hancock, Brooke, Ohio, Marshall, Wetzel and Tyler Counties. Right now, there are very limited restrictions on the non-custodial parents to be eligible for this program. BSCE is the referral agency, much in the same way that WV Works is the referral agency for TANF Welfare to Work candidates.
For more information regarding West Virginia's Fatherhood Initiatives, please contact Rita Dobrich, TANF Program Manger, at (304) 558-5202, or Mary S. Bolten, Paternity Outreach Coordinator, at (304) 558-3716.
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(Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee)
Deric Gilliard
Intergovernmental Affairs Specialist
Sam Nunn Atlanta Federal Center
61 Forsyth Street, SW, Suite 5B95
Atlanta, Georgia 30303-8909
Phone: 404-562-7910
Fax: 404-562-4197
Gwen Johnson
Social Services Director
Department of Health and Human Services
Administration for Children and Families/Head Start
Sam Nunn Atlanta Federal Center
61 Forsyth St, SW, Suite 4M60
Atlanta, GA 30303-8909
Phone: 404-562-2835
Fax: 404-562-2982
The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) ( Regions IV and VI) and with support from the Welfare Peer Technical Assistance Network, held a workshop on non-custodial parents on January 18 and 19, 2001, in Tallahassee, Florida. Workshop participants included individuals representing the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and the Office of Child Support Enforcement (OCSE) from the states of Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Tennessee and Florida.
The purpose of the workshop, Addressing the Needs of Non-Custodial Parents in TANF Families, was to build a common language and understanding of the issues surrounding welfare reform and non-custodial parents. In particular, promoting inter-agency collaborative strategies that effectively engage non-custodial parents-financially and emotionally-with their children. The workshop addressed the following issues:
It is estimated that one-third of the children in the United States live in a household headed by a single parent. Many of these children do not have a positive relationship with their fathers. Recent studies suggest that poverty and the lack of strong bonds with a responsible father is associated with negative child outcomes, such as high school dropout rates, increased risk of juvenile delinquency and substance abuse, and higher rates of teenage pregnancy. In recent years, practitioners and researches have become aware of the barriers to responsible fatherhood, and several programs have been developed to address the needs of low-income non-custodial parents. As fathers are able to meet their child support payment, they are also more likely to become emotionally connected to their children, thus reducing the risks of negative outcomes among our youngest generations.
Central to effective programs addressing the complex needs of non-custodial parents and their children is the collaboration of TANF and OCSE agencies. The workshop emphasized funding opportunities available to agencies to develop services and programs for non-custodial parents.
The full report on the workshop "Addressing the Needs of Non-Custodial Parents in TANF Families" has been posted on the Welfare Peer Technical Assistance Network under the TA Reports section. You can find it under "What's New" and under "TA Events" (Two ways to get there from the TA events page are via "chronological list" and via "hard to serve/multi barriers." The direct address for the report is: www.calib.com/peerta/whatsnew/pdf/ncpworkshop.pdf.
Access and Visitation. Alabama provides an advisory group to coordinate agency and interest groups for the discussion of access and visitation issues to point the way for improved programs and policies including custody and visitation statutes. They will also train judges and staff on access and visitation issues. The program operates four pilot projects on mediation and parental education for a primarily unwed population in rural and urban settings. Contact Peg Walker at (334) 242-0300
TANF. Alabama TANF funds will provide funding for a Fatherhood Initiative that will be transferred to the Children's Trust Fund (CTF) over the next two years to establish and oversee the program. Plans are to fund community projects to prevent early and unplanned fatherhood, strengthen relationships between fathers and children, and to increase child support payments by providing work and training opportunities. Additionally, Alabama has three fatherhood activities that are funded under the Welfare-to-Work program that targets the hardest-to-employ welfare recipients.
(State of) Florida Commission on Responsible Fatherhood
Phone: 850-488-4952
www.floridafathers.org/
Matthew D. Munyon, Executive Director
The Florida Commission on Responsible Fatherhood's goals are to raise public awareness of problems created when a child grows up without a responsible father present, identify obstacles that impede or prevent the involvement of responsible fathers in the lives of their children, and promote successful strategies to encourage responsible fatherhood. Ten million dollars in TANF funds are being administered by the Florida Commission on Responsible Fatherhood to fund local efforts to help fathers remain involved with their children.
TANF. In Florida, the local WAGES (Work and Gain Economic Self-Sufficiency) coalitions that administer the TANF program are funding programs targeting fathers, including employment-focused programs that require that fathers [who are delinquent in child support] find work or go to jail. Another project targets fathers of Head Start children for help with computer training, entrepreneurial skills and self-empowerment.
(State of) Georgia Fatherhood Initiative
Georgia Department of Technical and Adult Education
1800 Century Place, Suite 400
Atlanta, Georgia 30345
Phone: 404-679-1600
Fax: 404-679-1675
http://www.ganet.org/GAFatherhood/
Frances Barry, Director
The Fatherhood Initiative, created in 1997 by DHR's Child Support Enforcement office, uses State TANF and title XX funding to work with non-custodial parents who have a case with CSE and are unable or unwilling to pay their child support. The program offers: job counseling and placement assistance; placement into GED programs if needed; vocational training; classes on life-coping skills; and classes to strengthen parenting skills. CSE has entered into contracts with the Department of Technical and Adult Education to provide the range of services noncustodial parents need to get a job or move up the career ladder. Both TANF and Tittle XX-Social Services Block Grant funds are being used for this initiative.
Access and Visitation. Mississippi works with parents at Head Start centers and child welfare offices in an effort to help them develop parenting plans via mediation services. In addition, Mississippi also makes available supervised visitation services and information on the consequences of divorce as it affects children. Contact Pat Oluade at (601) 359-4873.
TANF. Mississippi has proposed using TANF funds for new initiatives for the hard-to-serve population. In FY 2000, $1.9 million was earmarked for Fatherhood Initiatives. The goal is to increase the involvement of fathers in the lives of their children and to provide supportive services to help fathers become more self-sufficient.
TANF. North Carolina is allowing counties to submit proposals to run their own fatherhood programs with TANF funds.
Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina Fatherhood
Initiative
Phone: 803-254-0230
www.sistersofcharitysc.com
Patricia Littlejohn, Program Officer
The Sisters of Charity Foundation provides grant funds, technical assistance and other resources for community and faith-based groups, organizations and other non-profits whose efforts address the fundamental causes of poverty in South Carolina. The Foundation has embarked on a six-year state wide Fatherhood Initiative to strengthen the role of fathers and fragile families in the state. They have information and resources available to the community on the importance of fathers in families; the impact of fatherlessness; and other fatherhood programs.
Access and Visitation. South Carolina's access and visitation initiative is referred to as the VIP Program (visitation, involvement, and parenting). One component of the VIP Program includes pilot programs in both urban and rural counties. This is in addition to on-going Statewide access and visitation initiatives. The primary services provided to the two counties include the development of a curriculum (Caring For Our Child) and the establishment of workshops for custodial and noncustodial parents as a way of assisting parents in the development of parenting plans and skills in parenting partnerships. Contact Marvin Lare at (803) 898-7657.
TANF. South Carolina uses TANF funds for three programs that deal with parenting and pregnancy prevention for the couple, not specifically fatherhood. The Teen Companion Program is for youth who have never parented. The specific goals are to prevent pregnancies, reduce the youth dropout rate and increase options for self-sufficiency. The Youth Parent Program is for youth receiving FI benefits who are pregnant or parenting. The specific goals of this component are to reduce subsequent pregnancies, increase the number of students who return to school, increase options for self-sufficiency, reduce the need for Child Protective Services, and reduce low birth weight and prenatal defects. The Country Grants Fund for Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Initiatives (APP) uses TANF funds to assist non-Medicaid or FI youth who have never parented. The program supports local efforts to prevent early sexual activity and to reduce the rate of adolescent pregnancy in each county. Initiatives emphasize sexual abstinence and male responsibility.
Access and Visitation. Tennessee invested its access and visitation funds in pilot projects in six judical districts. The purposes of these six pilots were to test the feasibility of requiring divorcing parents of minors to attend at least four hours of parent education; to mediate or negotiate a parenting plan that includes child visitation specifics; and to attempt to mediate any post-divorce disputes. Based on the successful results of these pilot projects, this requirement has become State law effective January 2001. Contact David Gilliam at (615) 313-4880.
TANF. Tennessee has been using TANF funds for its Fatherhood pilot project in Davidson County (Nashville) since implementation of its waiver/TANF plan in 1996.
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(Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin)
Joyce A. Thomas
Mid-West Regional Hub Director for Regional Affairs, Region 5
233 North Michigan Ave, Suite 400
Chicago, IL 60601
Phone: 312-353-4237
Fax: 312-353-2204
Geneva Bishop
Program Specialist
Administration for Children and Families/Head Start
233 North Michigan Avenue, Suite 400
Chicago, IL 60601
Phone: 312-353-8416
Fax: 312-353-2204
Janice Ely, RPC
Regional Health Administrator
233 North Michigan Avenue, Suite 1300
Chicago, IL 60601
Phone: 312-886-3864
Fax: 312-353-7800
The current focus of the Region V Fatherhood Initiative has been to support the collaborative relationships developed over the past several years. Region V partners have taken the initiative to a point where fatherhood activities are integrated into regular programming. Staff have incorporated fatherhood into their monitoring and technical assistance contact with program administrators. We are encouraged that our work has resulted in removal of barriers to services for Dads in all of our ACF programs.
Info: Conference
Brochure
in PDF format
Host: Milwaukee Fatherhood Collaborative
For more information, contact Sherry Hill at 414-445-7588.
March 1, Head Start/Child Support Collaboration presentation to Region V and VII staff and partners featuring the Chicago Head Start grantees sharing their experiences with the father friendly self-assessment tool.
Development and distribution of Midwest Hub Strategic Plan for Fatherhood.
Support and monitoring of Early Head Start Fatherhood Demonstration Grants in Region V. The Regional Office hosts a quarterly conference call for EHS fatherhood grantees with the Illinois Child Support program, a recipient of a Child Support/HS collaboration grant. Funding for the grant has ended, but collaborative activities are continuing.
Regional office staff participate in the Illinois Non-Custodial Parent Services Fatherhood/Male Involvement Collaboration by attending quarterly meetings and taking active roles on committees.
A Chicago Head Start grantee was funded to take the lead in Fatherhood activities for Illinois HS grantees in cooperation with the State of Illinois Child Support program.
Regional Office staff worked with the Head Start Indian Bureau to exchange ideas and share best practices in Fatherhood programming. Wisconsin’s Red Cliff Band (native Americans) has an Early Head Start fatherhood grant.
Regional Office staff developed fatherhood workshops for the Illinois Fatherhood Initiative Training Conference, the Region V Head Start Association, and the Illinois Head Start Association. A workshop on paternity establishment will be presented at the Midwest Hub Youth Conference in June.
Regional Office staff continue to participate in community forums and annual town hall meetings in Chicago sponsored by Rep. Danny K. Davis, 7th Congressional District, Illinois.
Discussions have been held with the Illinois of Children and Family Services on how to develop a more father-friendly environment. The agency has used the FPLS to locate fathers. The agency considers the Dads and paternal relatives as a potential placement resource.
The Regional Office partnership with the Illinois Fatherhood Initiative continues. In support of the 2002 Illinois Fatherhood Essay Contest, On April 16, the Regional Office hosted a Department of Health and Human Services site for volunteer essay readers. 40 staff participated in this activity reading over 1000 essays. Over 50,000 essays were submitted to the IFI from school children in Illinois on the subject, “What My Father Means to Me.” 100 winners will be selected and honored at a Chicago White Sox game in June. For more information contact John Tschoe at 312-886-8110.
The Secretary’s Regional Representative, Corey Hoze, was a speaker at the Illinois Fatherhood Initiative annual luncheon on February 14, 2002. Chris Gerstein of ACF Central Office was also a speaker.
Head Start fatherhood activity has increased in Region V as the grantees implement fatherhood programs. One example, Macomb County Community Action Agency, Macomb, Clinton Township, Michigan, Head Start program, in March with a movie matinee for the children and their male role model. 145 males associated with a Head Start child attended. Out of 145 attendees, 128 completed a male role model survey. The top 4 events that the men would be interested in are as follows:
According to the survey, the best time for these events are nights or weekends. On March 21, 2002, the program held a "Fast Track to Fatherhood" Car Night. 51 males attend with their children. The evening covered basic car mechanics (for the adults), Safety Bear presentations (car seat safety), hands on art activities: decorate your own race car, a transportation collage, etc. The local Fire Dept. came with a truck, the Sheriff Dept. with a car, the local k-9 unit, a school bus and a train for the kids to ride. Car related door prizes were donated by local businesses.
April 17th an evening parent meeting was held covering housing, home repair, budgeting, etc. The program has planned two evening literacy events, focused on a male storyteller.
Erie-Huron Community Action Council Head Start in Sandusky, Ohio, held a Male Model Fashion show with Head Start Dads and their sons. Human Development Commission Head Start in Caro, Michigan has combined fatherhood activities with literacy activities. For more information on Head Start activities, contact Kelly Dacey, 312-886-4918.
Regional Office staff support the partners for fragile families demonstration projects in Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin and Minnesota.
The Regional Office fact sheet, “Child Support From the Father’s Side” has been updated and is available for distribution. Young males are the target audience. Contact Geneva Bishop, 312-886-8416, for an electronic version.
The web pages for Region V states have been updated to reflect programming for fatherhood.
The Region Vb Head Start technical assistance provider made space available on their server for a Head Start/Child Support/Child Care Collaboration web page. This page includes information on fatherhood activities. It is accessed from http://www.regionvqnet.org/2gether4kids. For more information contact Lois Rakov, Illinois Child Support, 312-793-4568.
Examples of other state activities include: Toledo, Ohio — A calendar with photos of dad and kids and quotes on responsible fatherhood (copy available). Washtenaw, MI — Males from the community regularly come in and read with the children — (newspaper clipping available.) The Jackson Michigan HS agency is an EHS demonstration fatherhood grantees. They hosted a Michigan-wide fatherhood conference on Saturday June 15. Mike Singletary was the keynote speaker at this event. For more information, contact Franklin Marfia, 312-886-4925.
The two regions that make up the ACF Midwest Hub have joined together in a Hub activity to develop a Hub Fatherhood Initiative plan. Plan development is currently in process. Ultimately, we hope to have Fatherhood concerns become a natural, ongoing element within our programs and partnerships. The program units in each of our two regions will be meeting individually to discuss what they can do to ensure Fatherhood concerns are included in their programs. Subsequent to those meetings, the program units from each region will meet on a Hub-wide basis to share their discussions and develop plans on how they can proceed.
On March 1, there was a Hub meeting (including Federal and other partners) at which three of our Head Start grantees reported on their implementation of the Father Friendliness Organizational Self-assessment and Planning Tool. The tool is a mechanism by which we can bring the consideration of Fatherhood issues to our grantees and partners and expect it will be an important part of our plans. The Father Friendliness Organizational Self-assessment and Planning Tool referred to below can be found on the National Head Start Association's web site at http://www.nhsa.org/parents/parents_father_assess.htm.
Additional activities include:
Illinois Fatherhood Initiative
Phone: 800-996-DADS
www.4fathers.com
David Hirsch, President
The Illinois Fatherhood Initiative was the country's first statewide nonprofit, volunteer organization promoting father involvement in the lives of children. The initiative's activities include the publication of the "Illinois Fathers Resource Guide," a yearly calendar, and a children's essay contest about fathers.
Access and Visitation. Illinois provides mediation, counseling, parent education, and the development of parenting plans as one of many services related to child access and visitation. This is accomplished in conjunction with one county where there is a responsible fatherhood/fragile family project designed to assist low-income, unwed fathers in securing full-time employment and in becoming actively involved in their children's lives. The contact is Joseph Mason, who can be reached at (312) 793-0193.
The Father Connection Conference. Voices for Illinois Children, the Illinois Fatherhood Initiative, and the Erikson Institute are cosponsoring The Father Connection Conference in Springfield, Illinois on April 10. (not an ACF event, but will include a workshop on Head Start/Child Care/Child Support Collaboration)
(State of) Indiana Fathers and Families
Phone: 317-706-2641
www.State.in.us/fathers
The Indiana Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA) Division of Family and Children, has initiated Indiana Fathers & Families to support community-based efforts to help promote and restore a better quality of life for fathers and their families. Activities include: project funding; dissemination of information on Indiana Fathers & Families, technical assistance opportunities, and other information that fosters the effective delivery of services focused on restoring fatherhood and renewing families; development of a statewide Indiana Fathers & Families Work Group; and development of partnerships between State and local government bodies, non-government organizations, businesses, local planning bodies, and individuals involved in promoting and restoring fatherhood in Indiana.
Availability of state grants. The State of Indiana on March 1 announced the availability of $1.45 million through its Indiana Fathers and Families initiative for services aimed at strengthening the emotional and financial ties between fathers and their children (www.in.gov/fssa/fathers).
TANF. Indiana is using TANF funds for administrative costs associated with outreach to fathers, and to support community-based efforts which promote and restore fatherhood. TANF funds are also used to fund projects which establish or expand effective fatherhood involvement strategies that serve to promote fathers' emotional and financial involvement in their children's lives. Indiana Fathers and Families, the state funded fatherhood initiative, made grants to community and faith based agencies for services to families, including programming targeted to fathers. $1.5 million was awarded this year in grants averaging $40,000 dollars.
Michigan has established three pilot programs, each in 5 local offices, to address fatherhood and marriage issues. The first, Effective Parenting, exempts certain families from the state's work requirements when it is determined they can better benefit from participating in a parenting education program. The second pilot, Encouraging Family Formation, requires parents of newborns 6-12 weeks old to attend 24 hours of programing on marriage, fatherhood, and parenting. The third pilot, Fatherhood, pays for paternity testing in an effort to reach 100%paternity establishment.
TANF. Michigan provides employment services to noncustodial parents who are employed or underemployed in order to enable them to meet their responsibilities to support their children.
Use of TANF Funds. In 1999 the State began using TANF funds to support the Parents' Fair Share (PFS) program, which operates in three counties (Ramsey, Anoka, and Dakota). The program serves low-income noncustodial parents (predominantely men) in a number of ways: 1) work and employment counseling, 2) parenting counseling, 3) peer group support, and 4) substance abuse treatment referrals. If the custodial parent is receiving TANF, the noncustodial parent may have his support order lowered for a period of time providing he is participating in the PFS program. If the custodial parent is not receiving TANF, the support order can only be lowered with the custodial parent's consent.
Family Law Clinics One of the most exciting things happening at the local level in Minnesota are the Family Law Clinics. They are literally cropping up all over the state. Many of the counties are also putting together Attorney Law Clinics. The counties are sharing information with each other and replicating the workshops. They are using many local resources to overcome money barriers. In one community, the local parish offers their parish hall for no charge as long as it is left in good condition. They were also able to secure pop/soda beverages from a local distribution company for free -broken cases that could not be sold.
Minnesota’s Fatherhood Notebook also contains a handout that on "Tips for Building Working Relationships with Other Community Agencies and Businesses — Sharing Knowledge and Maximizing Resources to Better Serve Families Using Child Support Services". On the horizon in Minnesota is employer appreciation outreach. Contact Deborah Kreger, Minnesota Child Support 651-296-5737.
TANF Funding. The State distributes their TANF funding to each of the Counties in Ohio and they in turn plan and provide the services needed for TANF families. While it is difficult to know exactly what each County has done in terms of Fatherhood initiatives, they do have some interesting statistics on the numbers of non-custodial parents related to TANF cases that have received various services from the Counties through their TANF funding. In the first three quarters of State Fiscal Year 2002 (July, '01--March '02) 2,865 non-custodial parents have been served by the Counties around the State. Of these, 2823 adults have received family counseling, employment services, domestic violence and chemical abuse treatment and education and training with the goal of providing fuller employment and stable family participation and ultimately more and better child support obligations. The remaining 42 cases are teen parents and youth that have participated in education, training and counseling programs aimed at education completion and healthy family formation. Virtually all of this funding is TANF dollars spent in individual County programs. The State encourages the Counties to use TANF funds for marriage formation, fatherhood counseling and improved participation in employment to meet child support obligations.
(State of) Wisconsin Fatherhood Initiative
Phone: 608-266-1212
www.dwd.State.wi.us/wifatherhood
As a result of an Executive Order by Gov. Tommy Thompson in August of 1998, the Fatherhood Initiative of Wisconsin was authorized. That Executive Order was followed by the Governor's call for a Summit Meeting on Fatherhood issues culminating in a statewide conference on Fatherhood in May of 1999. At that meeting different State and local public and private agencies, and corporations, were asked to become involved in fatherhood programs and to make firm sponsorship commitments to such efforts in their communities. Following that, some 20 different entities, combined with government resources, came together to jointly sponsor a number of programs. The most notable of these were the training and employment service programs for over 4,000 non-custodial and custodial parents, sponsored principally with corporate contributions and funds from the TANF and DOL Welfare-to-Work programs. That initial effort has led to the TANF funding (approximately $1,140,000 per year) of employment services for noncustodial parents under the Children First program and the use of $12.7 million from the DOL Welfare-to-Work Program over the last several years to support employment projects, education and training programs, and a number of healthy family formation counseling efforts throughout the State. Federal and State support continues to fund Fatherhood Initiatives throughout the State with some 43 Counties having specific Fatherhood projects working to provide services to both custodial and non-custodial fathers and to strengthen their family responsibilities and connections.
Excellent Fatherhood programs are found in Milwaukee, Racine, Kenosha, Madison and the Rhinelander-Oneida areas. There is also a State Children's Trust Fund grant program underway to provide small ($4,000) seed money grants to local communities throughout the State to plan and establish viable Fatherhood projects.
Head Start Wisconsin held a summit on Fatherhood in the State’s Head Start Programs at Oshkosh, WI, June 27-28, 2002. Keynote topics were: The Importance of Fathers and What HS Programs Need to be Successful in Fatherhood Services. Work shop session included: Potential Partners to Support Fatherhood Programs; Head Start Fathers Tell Their Stories; Showcase of Current Head Start Programs; The Fatherhood Toolkit; Legal Issues of Fatherhood; How to Involve Mothers in Fatherhood Services; and Parenting for Dads. For information about this event contact Bill Welch, Region Va QNet Program Specialist, (800) 862-3725, ext. 243, email: welchb@cesa5.k12.wi.us.
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(Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas)
Julia Lothrop
Intergovernmental Affairs Specialist
Department of Health and Human Services
1301 Young Street, Suite 1124
Dallas, TX 75202
Phone: 214-767-3525
Fax: 214-767-3617
Ford Blunt
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)
Department of Health and Human Services
1301 Young Street, Suite 714
Dallas, TX 75202
Phone: 214-767-6279
Fax: 214-767-6400
Tomasia Pinter
Administration for Children and Families
Department of Health and Human Services
1301 Young Street, Suite 914
Dallas, TX 75202
Phone: 214-767-2972
Fax: 214-767-8890
Evelyn Glass
Office of Family Planning
Department of Health and Human Services
1301 Young Street, Suite 766
Dallas, TX 75202
Phone: 214-767-3088
Fax: 214-767-3425
The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) (Regions IV and VI) with support from the Welfare Peer Technical Assistance Network, held a workshop on non-custodial parents on January 18 and 19, 2001, in Tallahassee, Florida. Workshop participants included individuals representing the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and the Office of Child Support Enforcement (OCSE) from the states of Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Tennessee and Florida.
The purpose of the workshop, Addressing the Needs of Non-Custodial Parents in TANF Families, was to build a common language and understanding of the issues surrounding welfare reform and non-custodial parents. In particular, promoting inter-agency collaborative strategies that effectively engage non-custodial parents-financially and emotionally-with their children. The workshop addressed the following issues:
It is estimated that one-third of the children in the United States live in a household headed by a single parent. Many of these children do not have a positive relationship with their fathers. Recent studies suggest that poverty and the lack of strong bonds with a responsible father is associated with negative child outcomes, such as high school dropout rates, increased risk of juvenile delinquency and substance abuse, and higher rates of teenage pregnancy. In recent years, practitioners and researchers have become aware of the barriers to responsible fatherhood, and several programs have been developed to address the needs of low-income non-custodial parents. As fathers are able to meet their child support payments, they are also more likely to become emotionally connected to their children, thus reducing the risks of negative outcomes among our youngest generations.
Central to effective programs addressing the complex needs of non-custodial parents and their children is the collaboration of TANF and OCSE agencies. The workshop emphasized funding opportunities available to agencies to develop services and programs for non-custodial parents.
The full report on the workshop "Addressing the Needs of Non-Custodial Parents in TANF Families" has been posted on the Welfare Peer Technical Assistance Network under the TA Reports section. You can find it under "What's New" and under "TA Events" (Two ways to get there from the TA events page are via "chronological list" and via "hard to serve/multi barriers." The direct address for the report is: http://www.calib.com/peerta/whatsnew/pdf/ncpworkshop.pdf
There have been several key events held in the five state area to focus attention on the issues of fatherhood and the potential for positive impact on American families. The Regional Hub Director delivered special remarks at the first annual Region VI Head Start Association Fatherhood Conference in Texas on March 1-4, 2001. The conference, attended by representatives of several ACF programs, was the first-ever region-wide activity for males who are fathers, grandfathers, uncles or interested human beings who love and care for children. The 3rd Annual Male Advocacy Network Conference, "Men in the New Millennium" held in Albuquerque, New Mexico afforded the opportunity for networking with individuals from across the country. The Regional Hub Director provided special remarks and emphasized the importance of the fatherhood issue across all ACF programs. The Regional Hub Director and the program specialist for Fatherhood attended and participated in the Texas Fragile Families Peer Learning College hosted by the Texas Attorney General's Office to increase information exchange among Child Support workers to assist young fathers with education and job training resources. ACF West Central Hub Director for Community Programs participated in the "Mi Hogar y Mi Familia" Conference held at Coastal Bend College (Bee County College) in Alice, Texas to specifically address the issue of fatherhood in the Hispanic community.
Project RETURN Helps Former Prision Inmates to Get Jobs. Project Return provides services to former prison inmates. The services include non-medical substance abuse treatment, family counseling, GED and academic enhancement, training in conflict resolution and communication/relationship building, job training and placement assistance. The program targeted prisoners in New Orleans, Shreveport and Lafayette. To date, 48 former inmates are enrolled and 45 percent were placed in employment. The Louisiana Department of Corrections administers the program. The Department of Corrections has contracts with a variety of agencies to provide direct services.
Project Metamorphosis is Providing Services to 110 Prison Inmates. Project Metamorphosis provides educational and vocational instructions and job placement counseling and preparation to inmates who will be released within 12 to 18 months. Currently 110 inmates are participating in the program. Although participation is voluntary, participation is at 100 percent capacity and there is a waiting list at some facilities. The Louisiana Department of Corrections administers the program. The Department of Corrections has contracts with a variety of agencies to provide direct services.
Job Skills Education Program Provides Services to 109 Inmates. The Job Skills Education program provides services to enhance basic academic skills of state adult inmates. One hundred and nine inmates are currently participating in the program. The Louisiana Department of Corrections administers the program. The Department of Corrections has contracts with a variety of agencies to provide direct services.
Concordia Skills Pre-Release Program Trains 97 Inmates. The Concordia Correctional Life Skills Pre-Release Program provides services for basic academic, vocational and life skills training to inmates who will be released within 12 to 18 months. To date, 97 inmates are participating in the program. Of those participating, 80 percent are receiving Vocational/Technical training, 95 percent are working towards obtaining a GED and 57 percent are in counseling (e.g., family relationship and anger management). The Louisiana Department of Corrections administers the program. The Department of Corrections has contracts with a variety of agencies to provide direct services.
Fatherhood Council Launces An Essay Contest: "What My Father Means to Me". The Fatherhood Council was created by the State Legislature to develop a plan to promote and monitor fatherhood initiatives. This program will be used as a vehicle to design fatherhood programs and market the importance of fatherhood in the lives of children. One of the initiatives is to have students across the state of Louisiana participate in an essay contest "What My Father Means to Me". Schools that submit the most essays by the contest deadline, March 31, 2002, will win sports equipment worth $250. All participating students will receive a certificate. The student winner in each grade level will receive a $100 Savings Bond. There will be a special recognition ceremony for the winners and their families in June 2002. All finalists will receive a "Hall of Fame Dad" golf shirt and hat, induction into the National Center for Fathering Hall of Fame. The grand-prize winner will receive a $500 "Dad's Scholar Award", a "Hall of Fame Dad" golf shirt and hat and recognition as the 2002 Father of the Year.
The IV-D program has conducted presentations to alternative high schools and fathers support groups to advise them of their rights and responsibilities as a parent and the importance of establishing paternity.
TANF Activities. Oklahoma initiated a scholar-in-residence program to promote marriage by raising the awareness of issues related to marriage. Although the program was completed in May 2001, the individuals remained as Marriage Ambassadors through August 2001. A curriculum based on skills development is being used for the delivery of pre-and post-marital counseling and educational services to low-income families.
In an effort to increase public awareness on fatherhood issues and to educate teens on parental responsibility, the Oklahoma Child Support Enforcement Division partnered with the Maternal and Child Health Service, State Health Department, to facilitate training to the "Dads Make a Difference" program.
TANF Activities. The Texas Workforce Commission supports a Fatherhood Initiative that was designed to provide opportunities for fathers to contribute to the economic and emotional well-being of their children. The initiative offers counseling and parenting skills for fathers to help the progress toward self-sufficiency. This project started late in 2001.
(State of) Texas Fatherhood Initiative
Phone: 512-453-5056
Fax: 512-453-5063
E-mail: tfi2000@austin.rr.com
www.fatherhood.org/tx.htm
Christopher A. Brown, Director
The Texas Fatherhood Initiative seeks to improve the health and well-being of children by reducing father absence and promoting responsible fatherhood. The TFI defines father absence as a lack of physical, emotional, or spiritual connection between fathers and their children. The primary message of the TFI is that fathers play a unique and irreplaceable role in children's development. TFI conducts the following activities: 1) coordinates a multi-media, public awareness and education campaign on the consequences of father absence and the need to promote responsible fatherhood; 2) organizes Community Fatherhood Forums across the state; and 3) operates the Texas Fatherhood Resource Center (TFRC), which provides individuals and community-based organizations with fatherhood-related resource materials, training, referrals, and technical assistance.
(State of) Texas PAPA and POP Programs
Phone: 512- 460-6124
Ann Costilow, PAPA Program
Phone: 512- 460-6317.
Joan Hutchinson, POP Program
Texas has launched two programs that reinforce the importance parenting and paternity establishment. The Texas hospital-based Paternity Opportunity Program (POP) represents a successful collaboration among hospitals, the Office of the Attorney General (the child support agency in Texas), and the Bureau of Vital Statistics (BVS) to give fathers an opportunity to voluntarily acknowledge paternity. Hospital birth registrars now distribute written material on paternity to unwed parents, offering them an opportunity to sign the paternity acknowledgment form. Materials have been developed, the acknowledgment of paternity form has been made, and training has been provided to personnel at birthing hospitals and birthing centers across the State. PAPA, which stands for Paternity/Parenthood Program, is a curriculum that teaches teenagers the legal rights and financial responsibilities that come with parenthood. PAPA's objective is to make teenagers aware that parenthood is a commitment that will last at least 18 years. The curriculum includes a video, written lesson plans and transparencies. The curriculum has been distributed to every middle school and high school in the State and is currently being revised to focus more on non-financial fatherhood issues such as good parenting and the developmental need of children. Both PAPA and POP are programs of the Texas Attorney General's Office of Child Support Enforcement.
Texas Fragile Family Initiative
Phone: 512-320-0228 ext. 125
http://texasfragilefamilies.org
Michael Hayes, Project Director
The Texas Fragile Families Initiative (TFF) is an innovative state-wide project with 12 sites developed through the partnership of the Hogg Foundation for Mental Health and the Center for Public Policy Priorities. The Initiative is designed to facilitate the development of community-based services for young, low-income, fathers as they support the emotional, physical, and financial needs of their children. To this end, TFF is engaged in multiple layers of activities: capacity-building to local programs and their staff, training and technical assistance to State agencies, public policy education, recruitment of funding partners within both private foundations and public agencies, and community awareness building.
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(Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska)
Kris Lancaster
Intergovermental Affairs Specialist
Office of the Secretary's Regional Representative
Department of Health and Human Services
601 East 12th St, Room 210
Kansas City, MO 64106
Phone: 816-426-2823
Fax: 816-426-2178
Email: kris.lancaster@hhs.gov
Dan Houlahan
Administration for Children and Families
Department of Health and Human Services
601 East 12th Street, Rm 276
Kansas City, MO 64106
Phone: 816-426-3981 x195
Fax: 816-426-2888
G. Carolyn Sherlank
Administration for Children and Families
Head Start and Youth Program Specialist
Department of Health and Human Services
601 East 12th Street, Rm. 276
Kansas City, MO 64106
Phone: 816-426-3981 ext. 142
Fax: 816-426-2888
On its website, Region 7 maintains information about male involvement activities in its states and includes links to some websites that might be helpful in program development. [Note that most of these links are to sites not maintained by HHS.] The site is at: http://www.acf.dhhs.gov/programs/region7/malegate.htm
TANF. Iowa is using TANF funds for its Parental Obligation Program. This program is intended to help parents, especially fathers living apart from their children, to develop and maintain relationships with their children and meet their full range of parental responsibilities. In collaboration with existing community resources, an array of services are provided which include: family counseling, legal services, mediation, job training, substance abuse treatment, health maintenance, and personal mentoring.
TANF. Missouri's PFS program is based on the idea that both parents are responsible for supporting their children, both emotionally and financially. To participate in the program, an individual must: live in the State, be a noncustodial parent, be unemployed or underemployed, and be at least 18 years old. PFS offers a wide range of fatherhood-related services including parenting education, peer support, and substance abuse intervention. Missouri has a two-year allocation of $10 million.
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(Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming)
Judy A. Galloway
Acting Regional Administrator
Byron G. Rogers Federal Office Building
1961 Stout Street, Suite 924
Denver, CO 80294
Phone: 303-844-1129
Fax: 303-844-2624
Region VIII has provided access to multi-regional resources to co-sponsor the "2001 Regional Family Support and Fatherhood Summit." This special May 2-4 2001 summit increased the capacity of systems, organizations and communities to strengthen and support families. While the summit was held in Denver, CO, it targeted a national audience. It featured diverse speakers from across the United States. Among those speakers was Wade F. Horn, Ph.D., President and CEO of the National Fatherhood Initiative. Dr. Horn is now the Assistant Secretary for the Administration for Children and Families.
Region VIII held a Tribal Roundtable in conjunction with the West-Central Hub (Regions VI and VIII) Tribal Child Care Conference March 19-21, 2002 in Denver. The event focused on administration initiatives, as well as promoting the “one department” priority as a collaborative effort of our local ACF programs. Regional staff developed the agenda in its entirety. They also developed, delivered, and facilitated workshops. Fatherhood sessions included: “Young Fathers” and “Fatherhood / Family Formation.” The sessions focus was on tribal programs that involve fathers in family life.
Region VIII Head Start and Early Head Start programs are making great strides to promote the Fatherhood Initiative. Below are examples of their efforts to increase the participation of fathers in Head Start centers:
On September 27-28, 2001 the ACF Region VIII Office hosted the first Rapid Response Workshop focused on the Administration’s priorities promoting: healthy marriages, the involvement of fathers in the lives of their children, and expanding the role of faith- and community- based organizations in the delivery of social services. Representatives of the State TANF agencies and Tribes in ten states of the West-Central HUB attended. The event was keynoted by Chris Gersten, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of ACF.
One of the highlights of the Workshop was a presentation on the Oklahoma Marriage Initiative. A participant's manual of carefully selected articles on the subjects of the Workshop was provided to each attendee and shared with all the Regions in ACF.
Region VIII TANF staff conducted a briefing of all the Regions and central office TANF staff on the development and delivery of the workshop in December of 2001.
The Colorado Partners for Fragile Families is a three-year effort to build collaborations with the TANF agency, the local Child Support Enforcement agency, and relevant community-based organizations. The lead community-based organization is Human Services Inc., working through their Florence Crittenton Young Fathers Program. The project is intended to recruit and refer low-income, low-skilled, non-custodial fathers ages 16 to 26 to fatherhood programs, employment, training and job placement services, and substance abuse and anger management services as needed. The project also provides support, mediation, and visitation assistance. Finally, the project will provide for the establishment of paternity, as well as the establishment and enforcement of child support orders.
ACF staff joined the Metro Denver Fatherhood Coalition in January 2002. This presents an opportunity to network with community members actually working on Fatherhood issues. The group wishes to promote fathers, the role that they play in the development of their children and to dispel the notion that fathers are not nurturers. They meet monthly.
Colorado provides grant support for mediation services, parenting coordination activities, never-married parent services, parenting education programs, conflict resolution skills, dependency and neglect mediation services, interpreter and translation services, outreach and judicial training, supervised parenting services, and committee support to explore non-adversarial approaches to divorce.
The Colorado Statewide Parent Coalition created a curriculum to train fathers to be more actively involved with their children and with their children’s education. In 1980, a group of parents and educators came together for the purpose of coordinating advocacy efforts with fathers. The Los Padres Curriculum Manual is the outcome of their efforts. The Los Padres training program is designed to connect fathers, in a more meaningful way than previously, with their families, and to engage them in the process of their children’ s education and social development. Los Padres has enrolled fathers from at least one Head Start program in Colorado through a written agreement.
Several counties within the State of Colorado, working with the State and Federal Office of Child Support Enforcement, have initiated father-friendly programs. They include:
El Paso County Parent Opportunity Program (POP). This program is in its third year of a 3-year Section 1115 grant that was awarded to develop an innovative approach to create a strong community effort for non-custodial parents. The following community organizations are involved in the project: a) the Center on Fathering, b) Goodwill Industries, c) Policy Studies, Inc. (the local CSE unit), d) Women's Resource Agency, e) Women’s Health Center, f) Ecumenical Social Ministries, g) the courts and mediation services, and h) local hospitals. Together these organizations have created collaborative processes to service under- employed and unemployed non-custodial parents. These efforts are being evaluated by the Center for Policy Research to determine their effectiveness.
Larimer County People Achieving Responsibility through Education, Nurturing, and Training (PARENT) Program. This program is also open to parents. It consists of an 8-week program designed to help non-custodial or custodial parents find employment and increase their knowledge of parenting issues. Funding for this program has been through regular Title IV-D Child Support Enforcement dollars. Recently however, Larimer County applied for and received a Federal Special Improvement Project (SIP) grant that allows the monthly support obligation to be paid for the non-custodial parents while the non-custodial parent attends the 8-week session.
Denver County Work and Family Center. This program received its initial funding through a Federal Section 1115 grant, funds from the Department of Corrections (DOC) and Welfare-to-Work funding through the Department of Labor. It is a collaborative effort between CSE and the DOC to assist ex-offenders with reintegration from prison to the community. The Center has a staff comprised of child support and employment specialists that work together to assist ex-offenders with obtaining child support obligations based on reasonable income. The ex-offenders also receive all available employment and training opportunities. Parole officers and community correction agencies refer the ex-offender to the Center as part of the ex-offenders parole plan. Once at the Center the ex-offender’s issues with employment and child support are addressed. The Center also assists the ex-offender with other family issues, such as parenting time and mediation. The Center even offers peer support sessions to groups of ex-offenders. The Center is the first of its kind in the nation.
Pueblo County Loving Fathers/Padres Queridos Program. This non-custodial parenting program derives its funding from the Department of Labor’s Welfare to Work allocation and the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) grant and is thus limited to those that qualify for these Federal funds. The program is designed to overcome barriers between moms and dads. Both parents are given an opportunity to discuss the issues (usually parenting time) with the case manager of the project. The case manager builds a rapport with both parents and educates both of their importance in participating in their children’s life. One of the primary functions of the case manager is to enroll the non-custodial parent in employment and training activities and keep track of their progress. The program has also created a “safe house” where visitations between the qualifying non-custodial parent and children take place. Many non-custodial parents have never seen their children when the initial meeting at the safe house occurs.
This year the Child Care and Development Fund staff for Region VIII hosted two State Child Care Administrators’ Conferences focusing on the ACF priorities as well as other technical sessions relating to early care and education. Our Regional Conferences were January, 2002 in Dallas and May, 2002 in Denver.
Participants at the two conferences benefited from presentations on positive fatherhood initiatives shared by leaders in the field Christopher Brown, Director of the Texas Fatherhood Initiative and Ken Canfield, President of the National Center on Fathering. During these two presentations, they shared models of programs that have made impacts on families and communities. State Administrators came away with ideas for outreach and consumer education.
North Dakota TANF and Child Support Departments are being encouraged to continue development of a fatherhood project. The State would, under the proposal, impose the same work requirements on non-custodial parents as it does on a custodial parent receiving TANF benefits. The North Dakota Child Support and TANF Directors have met to work on details.
The North Dakota Department of Human Services Head Start Collaboration Office and the North Dakota State University (NDSU) Extension Service cosponsored the Dakota Fatherhood Summit, April 9, 2002 in Bismarck. A unique aspect of the Summit was its combining the efforts of both North and South Dakota. Organizers, headed by Dr. Sean Brotherson from NDSU and Linda Rorman, Head Start Collaboration Administrator, determined this to be an excellent means of sharing issues as well as resources between the two states. Topics discussed by panel and group participants included:
Montana provides for education on divorce, assessment of visitation assistance needs, provision of information to assist divorcing parents, and mediation. The State will also assess needed changes to the court system and creation of family visitation centers.
Montana has prepared Public Service Announcements on consumer education and outreach that show fathers and children in a different light than previous campaigns. The announcements display fathers involved in positive interaction with their children and show them selecting a quality child care provider for their children.
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(Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, Guam, Trust Territory of Pacific Islands, and American Samoa)
Ronald Banks
Regional Health Administrator
Federal Office Building
50 United Nations Plaza
San Francisco, CA 94012
Phone: 415-556-5810
Fax: 415-437-8004
CHOICES Program. Region IX is involved with the Choosing Healthy Options If Considering Engaging in Sex (CHOICES) Program targeting high risk adolescent and post-adolescent males, ages 12-24, in West Oakland and North Richmond at risk for unplanned pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases. CHOICES is a male focused information and education program aimed at promoting family planning, responsible fatherhood, and goal-oriented lifestyles. CHOICES provides opportunities for young males to receive health education and to interact with older peers who serve as role models. The program is designed to help participants learn how to set life goals, acquire an education, obtain a good job, and improve life skills. The Region IX Office of Family Planning is in the first year of its three-year commitment to fund the program through the Alameda County Department of Health.
San Mateo County Dads Count Program. San Mateo County has a new initiative to increase awareness about the value of fathers and the role they play in their children's lives. The county will hold its second annual Dads Count event on April 4, 2001, to bring more attention to the issue of fatherhood. The event is sponsored by the government, legal and business communities in San Mateo County, in conjunction with the Fatherhood Collaborative of San Mateo County, a group consisting of organizations and individuals dedicated to supporting fathers in caring for their families and children. The HHS Regional Director's Office attended the April 4th event. The keynote speaker will be Bill Walsh, San Francisco 49er General Manager and former coach.
Bay Area Partners for Fragile Families. Bay Area Partners for Fragile Families, a project of the National Center for Strategic Nonprofit Planning and Community Leadership (NPCL) convened a workshop entitled Working with Young Fathers: Building Skills for Practitioners. This workshop was held on March 26-28, 2001, at the Allen Temple Baptist Church in Oakland. The Regional Office has worked closely with NPCL on many past fatherhood activities.
Access and Visitation. Arizona provides pilot grants to a number of counties. Maricopa County, for example, provides a wide range of access and visitation services for cases in the courts following or during divorce or paternity establishment including mediation, negotiation of compliance with court-ordered access, and visitation enforcement through a parental conflict resolution class. Drug testing, supervised visitation, and related services are also provided. Contact Kat Cooper at (602) 506-5714.
TANF. Arizona funds its Statewide fatherhood initiative with TANF funds through contracts with local organizations to provide services. The State also funds a young fathers mentoring program to assist fathers with parenting skills, employment, and visitation arrangements.
California State Faith-Based Initiative. On April 4, 2002, California Governor Gray Davis announced the award of $7.85 million to support 20 new and 20 ongoing and established community and faith-based initiative programs throughout the state. This is the second year of the Governor's community and faith-based initiative. In the first year of funding, 20 community and faith-based organizations received $3.75 million in first-time funding for innovative and diversified employment assistance programs and services to persons not traditionally served by the workforce development system. More than 680 organizations submitted proposals totalling $184.5 million for the second year of community and faith-based funding.
Access and Visitation. California provides a regional approach featuring parental education during the time of family disruption in an effort to increase parenting skills as a means for minimizing conflict and encouraging the development of parenting plans. Group counseling is provided to both parents and children on how to solve parenting problems. Other services, such as supervised visitation and neutral drop-off and child exchange services are provided to families during the litigation of a divorce or custody dispute. Contact Shelly Danridge at (415) 865-7565.
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(Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington)
Elizabeth G. Healy
Senior Intergovernmental Affairs Specialist
Department of Health and Human Services
2201 6th Avenue, RX-01
Seattle, WA 98121
Phone: 206-615-2013
Fax: 206-615-2087
Karen Matsuda
Regional Health Administrator, OPHS
2201 6th Avenue, Suite 20
Seattle, WA 98121
Phone: 206-615-2469
Fax: 206-615-2481
Vince Herberholt
Associate Regional Administrator
Administration for Children and Families
2201 6th Avenue, Suite 600
Seattle, WA 98121
Phone: 206-615-3662
Fax: 206-615-2574
Levi Fisher
Administration for Children and Families
2201 6th Avenue, Suite 600
Seattle, WA 98121
Phone: 206-615-2565
Email: lfisher@acf.dhhs.gov
The U.S. Administration for Children and Families (ACF) is pleased to announce an extraordinary 2-day conference in Seattle August 12-13. We hope you will make plans to attend.
The ACF Pacific Hub “Working Together to Strengthen Families” Conference will bring together more than 30 expert researchers, practitioners, academics, and policy specialists from around the country to present and explore the issues and promising practices of responsible fatherhood, healthy marriage and positive youth development. Featured speakers include: Dr. Wade Horn, ACF Assistant Secretary (invited), Drs. Les and Leslie Parrott, leaders in the "marriage movement," Marvin Charles, founder of Divine Alternative for Dads Services, and Dr. Howard Markman, University of Denver, and founder of PREP training.
This is a conference you will not want to miss. We hope you can join us at the Sheraton Hotel in downtown Seattle, August 12-13. For more information ,contact Vince Herberholt at (206) 615-3662 or vherberholt@acf.dhhs.gov
Access and Visitation. Idaho provides a screening of divorced and unwed parents as a means of determining appropriate access and visitation services that might be needed. Idaho also sponsors mandated parent education for divorced and unwed cases as well as mediation in order to arrive at mutually agreed upon parenting plans. Contact Anna Sever at (208) 334-5700.
Washington State Fathers Network and National Fathers Network
Phone: 425-747-4004
www.fathersnetwork.org
James May, Director
The Washington State/National Fathers Network advocates for men as crucially important participants in the lives of their families and children. The Network provides support and resources to fathers and families of children with developmental disabilities and chronic illness, and to the professionals who serve them. For example, the Network has training materials for health providers about how to work with men of color who are caring for their special needs children.
Conscious Fathering will be sponsoring a Father Fair in the Seattle area on 10/12/2002
Father fair will be a celebration for children and the men in their lives. The day will include an:
Father Fair 2002 should represent an opportunity to celebrate and enjoy the interaction and importance of positive male involvement. It will be available to all men significant in the life of a child or children, Dads (custodial and non custodial), Uncles, Grandfathers, and any significant male able to attend with a child or children.
The premise for the event would be that it be accessible and welcoming to all men and children, at no cost and that first and foremost it be FUN. That there would be information that encourages men to take an active role in the parenting of their children and celebrates those that already are.
The list of potential partners for such an event are endless, those having already expressed interest are WCPCAN, Parent Trust Washington, Family Policy Council, National Center for Fathering, and all of the Hospitals associated with Conscious Fathering Programs. For more information contact Levi Fisher at (206) 615-2565 or lfisher@acf.dhhs.gov
Last Revised: June 8, 2006
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