Brief
In fiscal year 2018, noncustodial parents were obligated to pay nearly $33.6 billion in current child support on behalf of the 15 million children served by the Title IV-D child support program. One-third of that, or $11 billion, was not collected. Unemployment is the leading reason for non-payment of child support by noncustodial parents. This brief will explore the opportunities at the state and federal levels to provide employment services to noncustodial parents and increase child support payments in the process.
Other
The federal government’s support of fatherhood initiatives raises a wide array of issues. This report briefly examines the role of the Child Support Enforcement (CSE) agency in fatherhood programs, discusses initiatives to promote and support father-child interaction outside the parents’ relationship, and talks aboutthe need most see for work-oriented programs that enable noncustodial parents to have the financial ability to meet their child support obligations in a consistent and timely manner. (Author abstract modified)
Brief
This brief provides a general overview of four Responsible Fatherhood (RF) grantees involved in the Parents and Children Together (PACT) Evaluation. The brief: 1) provides a general overview of two approaches to service delivery in fatherhood programs; 2) documents how service delivery is linked to fathers’ characteristics; and 3) describes how service delivery approach may be linked to program participation and retention rates. Data gathered via staff interviews, program observations conducted during site visits in fall 2013; ongoing interactions with leadership at each program; and data on…
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Training Materials
There are not many guys in the world who can actually say they were ready to be a father—or knew how to be one— before it happened. This manual tells you what new dads have figured out and wished they had known in the beginning about “having a baby.” By sharing what they’ve learned, we can take some of the mystery out of the process. (Author abstract modified)
Other, Brief
This paper analyzes legislative proposals that address marriage, and the potential impact on current fatherhood programs serving low-income families. The initiation of fatherhood programs following the passage of the Personal Responsibility Work Opportunities Reconciliation Act in 1996 is reviewed and current legislative proposals are described, including: the Child Support Distribution Act of 2001 and the Fathers Count Act of 1999, which combine child support reform measures with fatherhood provisions; the Strengthening Working Families Act, which contains child support distribution…
This book is for young couples becoming a family, either pregnant or with a new baby. It meets you where you are -- ready or not, and married or unmarried -- and helps you to be your very best. The love you bring your baby can help your baby grow and thrive. As two parents, working together, you have twice as much to give. And there are lots of good ways to get free or low cost help.
With three major sections -- on parenting, couples issues, and financial issues -- it offers a wealth of needed information and resources. For agencies, the book is an efficient and affordable way to…
Webinar
The Office of Family Assistance, through the National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse (NRFC), provided this technical assistance webinar for all responsible fatherhood practitioners, including current OFA grantees, and other interested stakeholders.
Fathers participating in fatherhood programs are often faced by a number of personal issues that act as barriers to achieving parenting, relationship, and employment goals. One of the most significant of these issues is substance abuse. This webinar shared lessons learned from the field and tips to help fatherhood practitioners…
The Responsible Fatherhood, Healthy Marriage and Family Strengthening Grants for Incarcerated and Reentering Fathers and Their Partners (MFS-IP) initiative was established in 2006 by the federal Office of Family Assistance (OFA), and required grantees serve fathers who were either incarcerated or recently released, as well as their spouses or committed partners. The grantees were required to deliver services to support healthy marriage and were also permitted to provide activities designed to improve parenting and support economic stability. From 2006 to 2011, the 12 MFS-IP sites delivered a…
This tip sheet provides specific guidelines for healthcare providers to start and facilitate conversations with parents and children on core relationship skills such as communication, conflict resolution, parenting, and financial literacy. (Author abstract)
Brief
This handbook offers some keys to successful coparenting relationships. It also offers strategies to raise a child as a team, whether the parents are romantically together or not. This guide will help coparents to learn to communicate, handle differences, manage anger, develop a written partners-in-parenting agreement, handle money wisely, learn what it takes to have a good, long lasting couple relationship or marriage and handle the tough issues that can break couples apart.
