Addressing the Needs of Noncustodial Fathers

There is a growing recognition among researchers and policymakers that noncustodial fathers often face multiple barriers that prevent them from meeting their financial and emotional responsibilities to their children.  As they increase their understanding of the role that fathers can play national, state and local agencies are increasing their efforts to assist noncustodial fathers overcome those barriers, find employment, and develop parenting skills.  Many of these initiatives use a range of funding sources and involve interagency collaborations between welfare agencies, schools, work programs, prison systems, churches, community organizations and the health care system.  A number of legislative proposals pending in Congress also focus resources on the needs of noncustodial fathers. 

This Resources for Welfare Decisions identifies recent publications and electronic information sources about programs that assist noncustodial fathers to meet their obligations to their children.  For more information, visit: Child Support Issues In Welfare Reform Reauthorization at www.welfareinfo.org/childsupportissuestanfreauth_trn.htm; Fatherhood/Family Formation at www.welfareinfo.org/fatherho.asp; Paternity Establishment & Non-Custodial Parents at www.welfareinfo.org/paternity_establishment.asp; and TANF Funding Programs for Services for Non-custodial Parents at  www.slid.org/noncustodialprovisions.htm.                             

Publications and Electronic Resources

Alwin, Ramsey. Community Action Network's Fatherhood Initiatives.  (Washington, D.C.: National Association for State Community Service Programs, August 2001) at www.ezlistings.com/MemberFiles/L1291/FatherhoodBrief.PDF.

Burns, Megan. Promoting Responsible Fatherhood. Some Promising Strategies. (Washington, D.C.: Progressive Policy Institute, March 19, 2002) at www.ppionline.org/ndol/print.cfm?contentid=250290.

Coalition of Community Foundations for Youth. Fathers Matter 2001: What Community Foundations Can Do.  (Basehor, KS: Coalition of Community Foundations for Youth, 2001) at www.span-online.org/fathers_matter.html.

Elling, Duane. M. Helping Non-custodial Dads Build Brighter Futures. (Flint, MI: Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, June 2001) at www.mott.org/publications/pdf/MNv4n1.pdf.

Feeley, Theresa.  Low-Income Noncustodial Fathers Issue Brief: A Child Advocate’s Guide to Helping Them Contribute to Support of Their Children.  (Washington, D.C.: National Association of Child Advocates, February 2000) at www.childadvocacy.org/dads.pdf.

Manpower Demonstration Research Corporation. (New York, N.Y.: Manpower Demonstration Research Corporation) at www.mdrc.org:

• Knox, Virginia and Cindy Redcross. Parenting and Providing: The Impact of Parents' Fair Share on Paternal Involvement.  2000. 
• Martinez, John and Cynthia Miller. Working and Earning: The Impact of Parents' Fair Share on Low-Income Fathers' Employment. 2000. 
• Miller, Cynthia and Virginia Knox. The Challenge of Helping Low-Income Fathers
  Support Their Children. Final Lessons from Parents’ Fair Share.  2001

McLanahan, Sara, et al. The Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study Baseline National Report. (Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University, August 2001) at http://crcw.princeton.edu/fragilefamilies/nationalreport.pdf.

 

National Center on Fathers and Families. Noncustodial Parents Database. (Philadelphia, Penn.: University of Philadelphia, April, 2002) at www.ncoff.gse.upenn.edu/programsdb/action.lasso.

 

National Conference of State Legislatures. (Denver, Colo.: National Conference of State Legislatures):

• 10 Things States Can Do to Help Low-Income Fathers.  2002.  At www.ncsl.org/statefed/welfare/10things.htm.
• Connecting Low-Income Fathers and Children:  Guide to Practical Policies. 2000.  At www.calib.com/peerta/policies/pdf/aboutgui.pdf.
• Nurturing Responsible Families Web Site. 2002. Visit www.ncsl.org/statefed/welfare/PDesc.htm.

National Practitioners Network for Fathers and Families, Inc.  A Comparative Review of State Commissions, Initiatives, and Programs Addressing Fatherhood Issues. (Washington, D.C.: National Practitioners Network for Fathers and Families, Inc., 2000) at www.npnff.org/publications.htm.

 

Social Policy Action Network. (Washington, D.C.: Social Policy Action Network):

• Resources for Fatherhood Programs. April 2001. At www.span-online.org/fathers_matter.html.
• Sylvester, Kathleen and Kathy Rich. Restoring Fathers to Families and Communities:  Six Steps for Policy Makers. April 2001.  At www.caseyfoundation.org/publications/fathers.pdf.
• What You Can Do to Promote Father Involvement.  April 2001.  At www.span-online.org/fatherhood_promote_involvement.pdf.

Turetsky, Vicki. Realistic Child Support Policies for Low Income Fathers.  (Washington, D.C.: Center for Law and Social Policy, March 2000) at www.clasp.org/pubs/childrenforce/kellogg.htm.

 

Urban Institute. (Washington, D.C., Urban Institute):

• Martinson, Karin, et al. Serving Noncustodial Parents: A Descriptive Study of Welfare-to-Work Programs.  December 2000.  At http://fatherhood.hhs.gov/ncp-wtw-d00/index.htm.
• Sorensen, Elaine. Helping Poor Nonresident Dads Do More.  May 2, 2002.  At www.urban.org/UploadedPDF/ShortTakes_3.pdf.
• Sorensen, Elaine and Chava Zibman.  Poor Dads Who Don't Pay Child Support: Deadbeats or Disadvantaged? April 1, 2001.  At www.urban.org/UploadedPDF/anf_b30.pdf.
• Sorensen, Elaine, et al. Redirecting Welfare Policy Toward Building Strong Families.  2000.  At www.urban.org/UploadedPDF/310263_sf_3.pdf.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.  (Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services):

• Fernandez, Leticia and Jeanette M. Hercik.  Addressing the Needs of Non-Custodial Parents in TANF Families. January, 2001.  At www.calib.com/peerta/taevents/pdf/ncpworkshop.pdf.
• Involving Non-Resident Fathers in Children’s Learning.  September 2000.  At http://fatherhood.hhs.gov/involv-non-res00/index.htm.
• MEETING THE CHALLENGE: What the Federal Government Can Do to Support Responsible Fatherhood Efforts.  January 2001.  At http://fatherhood.hhs.gov/guidance01/index.htm.
• Pearson, Jessica, et al. OCSE Responsible Fatherhood Programs. Early Implementation Lessons. June 2000. At www.acf.dhhs.gov/programs/cse/rpt/process.htm.
• Promoting Responsible Fatherhood.  April 26, 2002. At http://fatherhood.hhs.gov/factsheets/fact20020426.htm.

  Welfare Information Network.  (Washington, D.C.: Welfare Information Network):  

• Jones, Michelle. Funding Sources for Fatherhood Programs. January 2001. At www.welfareinfo.org/fatherhoodprogramsresource.htm.

• Pearson, Jessica and Chris Hardaway. Designing Programs for Incarcerated and Paroled Obligors. August 2000. At www.welfareinfo.org/expandedcasestudy.htm
• Sachs, Heidi. Support Services for Incarcerated and Released NonCustodial Parents. June 2000. At www.welfareinfo.org/heidijune2.htm.

Resource Contacts

• Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, Karin Martinson 202/408-1080 or martinson@cbpp.org.
• Center on Fathers, Families, and Public Policy, Marguerite Roulet, 608/257-3148 or mroulet@cffpp.org.
• Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, 810/238-5651 or visit www.mott.org.
• Manpower Demonstration Research Corporation, Virginia Knox, 212/532-3200
• Mathematica Policy Research Inc., John Homrighausen, 609/799-3535
• The National Center for Strategic Nonprofit Planning and Community Leadership, Jeffery M. Johnson, 202-822-6725.
• National Center on Fathers and Families, Vivian Gadsden, 215/573-3528 or vgadsden@gse.upenn.edu.
• National Conference of State Legislatures, Nina Williams-Mbengue at 303/830-2200 x203 or nina.mbengue@ncsl.org.
• National Fatherhood Initiative, Christopher Brown, 301/948-0599 or BrownTFI@austin.rr.com.
• National Practitioners Network for Fathers and Families, Inc., Preston Garrison, 202/737-6680, Ext. 203 or pgarrison@npnff.org.
• Princeton Center for Research on Child Wellbeing, Sara McLanahan, 609/258-5894.
• Social Policy Action Network, Kathleen Sylvester, 202/434-4770 or ksylvester@span-online.org.
• Urban Institute, Elaine Sorensen, 202/833-7200.

What States and Localities Are Doing

Florida’s Noncustodial Parent Employment Program, in Polk County, and Project Child Support, in Leon County, assist noncustodial parents obtain and retain employment, improve their relationship with their children, increase their payment of child support and increase public awareness about the benefits of responsible fatherhood.  Services include vocational training, job placement, employment monitoring, parent education, and skills training addressing issues related to court procedures, health and personal hygiene, anger management, and interpersonal communication.  Contact Lucienne Mochel (Polk County) at 813/987-6817 or Joe Thomas (Leon County) at 850/847-0065.

Georgia’s Fast Track to Jobs, is a six-week residential program of vocational exploration and summer work experience for noncustodial teen fathers.  Participants attend school, participate in parenting and money management classes, perform community service and cooperate with child support enforcement.  Contact Johnnathan Ward at 404/679-1690 or jward@dtae.org; or visit www.welfareinfo.org/geiorgiafatherhood.htm and www.ganet.org/GAFatherhood/jobs.html.

Nevada’s New Employees of Nevada (NEON) provides noncustodial parents who are unable to meet their child support obligations due to unemployment with substance abuse treatment, transportation assistance, clothing, short-term vocational training and post-employment job retention services.  Case managers develop an employment assessment and personal responsibility plan for each client, arrange support services, and work with the Family Mediation Program to resolve issues related to access.  Contact Rota Rosaschi at 775/687-4834 or rasaschi@govmail.state.nv.us.

Partners for Fragile Families is a multi-state initiative to help fathers work with the mothers of their children in sharing the legal, financial, and emotional responsibilities of parenthood.  Ten states are testing new ways for state-run child support enforcement programs and community-based organizations to work together to help young fathers obtain employment, make child support payments and learn parenting skills; and to help parents build stronger partnerships.  Contact Edwin Ridgway at 888/528-6725 or eridgway@npcl.org. 

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services initiatives include Child Support Development Projects in Washington, Minnesota and Washington, D.C. that focus on increasing employment and child support among noncustodial parents in the correctional system. Contact Pamela Carter at 202/401-9215.  Responsible Fatherhood Projects are testing state efforts to provide comprehensive services that include job search and training, access and visitation, social services or referral, and case management.  Grantees include California, Colorado, Massachusetts, Maryland, Missouri, New Hampshire, Washington and Wisconsin. Contact the HHS Press Office at 202/690-6343.

WIN Staff Contact: Michelle Jones or Jan Kaplan 202/628/5790 or welfinfo@welfareinfo.org.

The Welfare Information Network is supported by grants from the Annie E. Casey Foundation the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, the Ford Foundation, and the Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.