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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Monday, September 11, 2006
Contact: ACF Press Office
(202) 401-9215
Administration for Children and Families
Awards Grants to Strengthen Child Support
WASHINGTON, D.C. --- The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) today announced nearly $800,000 in grants to non-profit organizations and a local agency to advance the performance of the nation’s child support enforcement system.
“These grants are aimed at improving the financial stability of children and their parents by improving the child support enforcement system,” said HHS Assistant Secretary for Children and Families Wade F. Horn, Ph.D. “They highlight the importance of healthy parental relationships and helping noncustodial parents, when needed, in meeting their child support obligations.”
Three grants are designed to promote healthy relationships for unwed couples to improve their children’s financial security, including the following:
- The Center for Policy Research in Denver received $198,664 to collaborate with local clinics and child support agencies in San Francisco and Saint Louis to present information about paternity, child support and healthy relationships to low-income, unmarried parents in trusted, medical settings.
- The Child and Family Resource Council of Grand Rapids received $199,323 to provide parenting and life-skills sessions as well as mediation services to promote healthy relationships for low-income, single-parent families with young children. The project will evaluate what services and outreach best ensure that children receive financial and medical support.
- The Family Service Association of San Antonio received $200,000 to test strategies that enhance the understanding of unmarried, new parents concerning the importance of paternity establishment and the value of family stability and healthy relationships. The project will evaluate the effectiveness of providing unwed parents with both parenting/marriage educational materials and services as compared to only receiving educational materials.
Two grants were awarded to improve child support by encouraging parents and child support enforcement (CSE) agencies to work together for better results:
- The Christian Community Council in Albany, Louisiana received $100,000 to partner with the local CSE agency and the 21st Judicial District Court to help noncustodial parents find employment and increase their understanding of the court process and their knowledge of child support so they are better able to meet their parental obligations.
- The Philadelphia Housing Authority received $100,000, in partnership with the Department of Public Welfare and Family Court, to provide noncustodial parents with child support and housing eligibility services and referral to job training and placement to help them meet their child support responsibilities.
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Note: All HHS press releases, fact sheets and other press materials are available at www.hhs.gov/news