This guide is designed to assist state policymakers in their consideration of policies related to low-income families. It is intended to provide simple and concrete information about the challenges facing low-income fathers and offers a range of feasible policy alternatives that directly confront these barriers. Because more mothers and children leave the welfare rolls due to employment, sanctions and time limits, it is vital that these families have access to the emotional and financial contributions that fathers can make. The policies discussed here are designed to highlight ways that…
This fact sheet proposes ways in which fatherhood programs and state entities can work together to engage fathers. Suggestions include: facilitate collaborative relationships between local service providers and state entities like child support enforcement agencies and court systems; use state institutions as a connection point to refer low-income fathers to help them get jobs; develop a community outreach strategy that helps community providers better understand systemic issues related to child support and visitation; create a liaison that works directly with program providers to coordinate…
This fact sheet proposes ways in which state and local policymakers can engage fathers in a social network. Some suggestions include: Use state institutions' child support and welfare agencies and the courts' access points to connect low-income fathers with services; develop a statewide strategy for service delivery that combines state and local partnerships; develop outcome-based performance measures to assist state agencies to direct efforts toward developing comprehensive fatherhood services; use independent boards or commissions to oversee fatherhood projects; use the budget process to…
This fact sheet proposes ways policymakers can formulate child support guidelines to be father-friendly. Some suggestions include: establish formulas and guidelines that take low income obligors into consideration; ensure that guidelines allow low-income parents enough income to meet their needs after their child support is paid; connect fathers with employment and training opportunities that allow them to obtain employment and develop skills that provide wage advancement opportunities, and establish (or modify) realistic support order amounts; establish child support orders that reflect…
This fact sheet proposes ways in which policymakers can provide guidelines for fatherhood prevention and planning. Some suggestions include: Identify the population you are trying to target--young teens, older teens --to identify whether your message should focus more on abstinence or on a combined message that includes responsible sexual behavior and contraception.; integrate contraception into existing abstinence and sexuality education and STD/HIV prevention education; allow schools to provide accurate information regarding abstinence, sexual behavior, contraception and the risks…
Brief
The rise in single parenthood in the U.S. is well-known. Today, nearly a third of all children born in the United States are born to unmarried parents; the proportions are even higher among poor and minority populations--40 percent among Hispanics and 70 percent among African Americans. Yet, we know very little about these families, particularly about the fathers. Consequently, much of what we read in the newspapers or hear on television about unwed parents is based on anecdotal rather than scientific evidence. This policy brief is intended to dispel three common myths about unwed fathers and…
Brief
This document offers a brief examination of the key policy issues surrounding the EITC and marriage penalties. The EITC is designed to support low income working families with children. It provides a subsidy (up to $3,816 in 1999) for families with children and low earnings. Current research shows that the EITC has been successful in raising the income of such families, increasing rewards/incentives to work among many low skill workers, and in stimulating greater work effort by single parents. (Author abstract).
The timing is right--states and communities have unprecedented opportunities to invest in services and develop policies that help low-income fathers become the emotional and financial providers that their children need and deserve. Research has underscored theimportance of fathers in child development. Children with involved fathers are less likely to become teen parents, be involved with the juvenile justice systemand are more likely to perform better in school. However, recent reforms in welfare and child support have focused almost exclusively on helping mothersmove off welfare, without…
