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Journal Article The Family Support Act of 1988 and the 1996 welfare reform act recognized the need to help low-income fathers stay involved with their families, financially as well as emotionally. The laws required states to offer AFDC assistance to two parent families in which the primary wage earner was not employed. They also encouraged states to establish education, employment, and training assistance to noncustodial fathers of low income children so that they could obtain the level of employment needed to fulfill child support obligations. Reform policies have also tried to amend state practices…
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 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…
