DCL-04-31, Preliminary Data – Child Access and Visitation Grants State Profiles (FY 2003)

DEAR COLLEAGUE LETTER

DCL-04-31

ATTACHMENT: Preliminary Data – Child Access and Visitation Grants State Profiles (FY 2003)

DATE: August 2, 2004

TO: ALL STATE IV-D DIRECTORS
ALL STATE ACCESS AND VISITATION PROGRAM CONTACTS

RE: Preliminary Data – Child Access and Visitation Grants State Profiles (FY 2003)

Dear Colleague:

I am pleased to provide you with a copy of Preliminary Data – Child Access and Visitation Grants State Profiles (FY 2003). The report outlines key services delivered by agency for each state, including agency contact information. State agency reports on numbers of people served, income levels, race, gender and other key data are also included in this report.

The access and visitation service delivery numbers are noteworthy. Each year the programs have served more and more parents and their children. In FY 2003 70,000 parents across the nation received services. This is nearly a 40% increase over FY 2000. For FY 2003, nearly the same number of mothers and fathers received services, reflecting gender equity. Of all the services allowable under statute and regulation, most states work with parents on parenting plans, and provide parent education, as well as mediation and supervised visitation. For the first time information was collected on an important outcome measure—the number of noncustodial parents who spent more time with their children as a result of taking part in the program. Section II of this report has more information about service delivery data.

We anticipate that the sharing of this information will facilitate a broad exchange of best program and policy practices.

In addition to this report of preliminary data, we provide other sources of information aimed at improving service delivery. This year’s OCSE annual training conference will feature a workshop on access and visitation (September 21). Further, a full-day of training during our annual conference (Wednesday, September 22, at the Doubletree Hotel Crystal City, Arlington, VA) is scheduled for state access and visitation liaisons. Over the course of the year, we will offer teleconference seminars on topics of interest to access and visitation liaisons, all with the intent of discussing program planning, design, and data collection practices that will help to improve service delivery and enhance our ability to monitor outcomes.

The information contained in this report is available on OCSE’s Website at http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cse/, under Policy/Dear Colleague Letters.

We appreciate your input and cooperation in this important endeavor on behalf of children and families. For further information, contact Myles Schlank at (202) 401-9329.

Sincerely,

Sherri Z. Heller, Ed.D.
Commissioner
Office of Child Support Enforcement

Enclosure