This grant responds to 2006 Priority Area 1: Promoting Healthy Relationships for Unwed Couples to Improve Children's Financial and Medical Security. The grantee will collaborate with three medical institutions and two child support agencies to present information about paternity, child support, and healthy relationships to fragile families and other targeted, low-income, unmarried populations in trusted medical settings. The participating medical institutions will combine information on relationships, paternity, and child support with other educational material presented in "CenteringPregnancy," an established, group prenatal care program. The clinics are key providers of prenatal care for unmarried, low-income, minority parents in San Francisco and St. Louis. All three clinics maintain contact with parents after the birth of their babies offering the opportunity for effective long-term follow-up. They are also experimenting with group pediatric care formats using "CenteringParenting," which will provide another vehicle for delivering the "child support message." The child support agencies that serve these cities and targeted populations will participate by helping to train prenatal care staff about paternity and child support, making relevant presentations to parents at appropriate program sessions, and providing services to interested families.

The cross-site intervention will be subject to an evaluation aimed at documenting the impact of the enhanced "CenteringPregnancy" program on rates of paternity establishment, the use of the formal child support system, patterns of cohabitation and marriage, and the development of stable relationships that offer financial and medical security for vulnerable children. Outcomes for parental relationships include reduced couple conflict, increased parental contact and involvement, and a better understanding of healthy relationships. CPR will help publicize the project results to child support and prenatal care audiences throughout the nation and work with the Centering Pregnancy and Parenting Association to incorporate the "child support message" in the standard curriculum used in Centering programs. The project furthers the child support mission by creating effective collaborations between child support agencies and prenatal care programs that use sustained, group education formats with fragile families before and after the birth of their babies.

This grant responded to priority Area 2: Improving Child Support by Encouraging Parents and CSE Agencies to Work Together for Better Case Management and Results. “Fill the Gap” (FTG) was able to work with noncustodial parents (NCPs) to help them become more cognizant of the child support process and the importance of their involvement in the lives of their children. The project operated in Livingston, St. Helena, and Tangipahoa parishes in Southeast Louisiana.

(NOTE: many of these activities are not eligible for title IV-D program Federal financial participation.)

Project Findings
Goal 1: Serve as a link between the NCP and Support Enforcement Services (SES), the Hearing Officer, the District Attorney and the Public Defender. The Christian Community Council regularly reported to each of these entities on the participant’s compliance with program guidelines, attempts to overcome barriers faced, and current employment and contact information. As a result, these agencies were able to better communicate and take appropriate action with regard to the participant. Regular reporting served to improve credibility of the program, resulting in increased referrals by FTG partners. Participants learned through this process how to better communicate with SES.

Goal 2: Intervene in cases to help the NCP develop an understanding of the importance of paying child support payments.
The curriculum focused on: 1) the value of a secure family unit to the healthy well-being of children, and 2) the effects of divorce and separation on the family. Each week during assessments, participants were asked if they had had contact with their child(ren), and if not, they were encouraged to do so. Participants were given useful ways to reach out to their child(ren). NCPs were encouraged to engage in the child support process and cooperate with SES and the court.

Objective 1:
Provide classes to help NCPs become employable. FTG staff taught NCPs successful interviewing techniques, how to find a job and how to keep a job. Participants who were unemployed or underemployed were required by FTG staff to complete at least four applications each week.

Objective 2:
Develop relationship with businesses that are willing to hire participants that successfully complete FTG classes.
FTG directly contacted different businesses in the community to provide them information on program goals and services and also to find out the criteria the business uses for hiring (i.e., preferred work skills, willingness to hire felons). FTG also would contact businesses where program participants had completed an application to recommend the participant to the business and develop a relationship with the business. This resulted in businesses contacting FTG when they needed employees. Some of the businesses that employed participants were a company that builds fire trucks, several distribution warehouses, a chicken processing plant, local construction companies, and a plastic recycling plant. Income levels were dependent upon the participant’s skills and work experience.

Objective 3:
Develop a curriculum to educate NCPs. FTG’s 10-week curriculum focused on: 1) Orientation, 2) Rebuilding Relationships I, 3) Rebuilding Relationships II, 4) Rejection and Self Esteem I, 5) Rejection and Self Esteem II, 6) Goal Setting I, 7) Goal Setting II, 8) Success Strategies I – Finding Employment, 9) Success Strategies II – Interviewing and 10) Success Strategies II – Being a Team Player.

Objective 4:
Develop a database to use as a tracking device for participants. Implementation of the database, including input of historical data, was completed by March 2008. FTG provided access to the database to its program partners (the Hearing Officer, SES analysts, the Public Defender and Assistant District Attorney). This enabled the partners to view biographical data, contact information, participant program status, meetings attended, and reports completed by FTG staff on the referral’s program compliance, current employment information, etc. Program partners found the database very helpful, providing them the ability to check on the status of referrals, as needed.

Notable Findings

The project provided services to 139 participants. Almost all participants (98.6%) were either behind or not paying their child support, and were in collections court facing possible jail time for non-compliance with their child support order. At the conclusion of the grant period 77.7% of program participants were in payment status according to the Louisiana Delinquent Payers list (i.e., they made a child support payment within the previous six months).

• 83.7% of participants were employed at completion of classes.
• 79.7% of participants showed an increase in payments after beginning participation in the program.
• 32.2% of participants indicated an increase in visitation/contact with children.
• 97.8% indicated that they would recommend FTG to others, indicating satisfaction with the program services.

The statistical analysis showed significant differences in payment of child support between FTG participants and those referrals who did not participate. The FTG participants averaged an increase in total payment of $2,694 compared to $1,646 from those who elected not to participate in the FTG program.

In addition to conducting their own job development activities, FTG also partnered with Louisiana Workforce Development, and often referred participants to these services.

An analysis was conducted to examine the differences in payment by FTG participants, comparing payments made before referral to the program to payments made after referral to FTG. A history of a minimum of three months prior to referral date was compared to a minimum of six months after referral to FTG. The findings indicate that the mean payment per month increased among those who received FTG services. Data from pre-FTG participation indicate that the mean payment per month was $63.67 and data from post FTG participation indicate that the mean payment per month was $169.65.

Here is a sample of participant feedback. FTG:

• “Allowed you to deal with emotions, to hear others on how they get through their struggles, it gave you suggestions on how to improve relations- with mother and child, encourage you to stop putting yourself down- system down but to focus on your child.”
• “…is a very educational class that encourages individuals about themselves, and help rebuild what it takes in your life to feel good about yourself day to day staying strong minded and to help to be successful.”

Survey instruments were provided to SES workers to determine the benefit/helpfulness of the FTG classes, using a scale of 1 to 5, with 1=not very helpful and 5=very helpful. An average rating of 4.47 was received when the IV-D partners were asked to rate the satisfaction overall of program services. When asked about the helpfulness of the FTG program, the follow comments were received:

• “The workers are extremely friendly and helpful. The clients find them very helpful.”
• “It helps NCPs find jobs. It helps parents and children improve their relationship with each other.”
• “It does help some of the NCPs realize the role they should play in their children’s lives. And a few have gotten jobs. Also the address and phone #’s are usually the correct ones.”
• “They help NCPs understand importance of paying child support and help them find jobs.”
• “Helps noncustodial parents find employment. They feel like we are trying to help by referring them to the program. They all seem to be grateful for the help you provide. Keep up the good work!”

The top ten reason participants sited for not paying child support included: unemployment, health issues, lack of finances, incarceration, lack of transportation/no driver’s license, lack of work, substance abuse issues, family health issues, homeless/other life situation, new order.

Overall results from pre-tests/post-test evaluations generally show positive change in the participant attitude in the five criteria areas: understanding of child support enforcement process, relationship with the custodial parent, parenting skills, confidence in ability to participate in a healthy marriage, and helpfulness of FTG participation.

FTG developed a video entitled “It’s All About Your Child” that is displayed in the waiting area of the SES office in the Amite Region. Other agencies in Louisiana using the video include the Hearing Officer in Alexandria (who has shown the video in court), and the Assistant District Attorney in Washington Parish (who has shown the video in the office waiting room). The video has also been requested for use by other responsible fatherhood agencies operating in other States. Necessary adaptations were made, and a responsible fatherhood agency in Birmingham, Alabama and one in Gary, Indiana are using the video. The video can be viewed on the Web site located at www.ftgprogram.org.

Lessons Learned

• Set up evaluation goals and develop documentation for evaluation of program success. This helped FTG to document and more clearly show areas of program success and identify areas that might need improvement.
• Develop a logic model to more thoroughly analyze and articulate program goals and services, and keep the program on track with identified outcome goals.
• Network with responsible fatherhood education providers, both inside and outside the state, for encouragement and to discuss issues and brain-storm solutions.
• Develop a confidentiality form for NCPs to sign at referral. This allowed SES to share with FTG contact information on payment history and further opened communication between FTG and SES analysts. It also allowed FTG opportunity to gain statistical information that demonstrated outcome measures as identified previously.
• Seek out community resources that can strengthen the program’s capability to serve. For example, a partnership with Southeastern Louisiana University proved to be a valuable resource. FTG program received student helpers from Southeastern Louisiana University Social Work Program. Southeastern Louisiana University also helped by serving as program evaluators.
• Develop strategies to sustain the grant financially after grant funds are exhausted. FTG’s attempt to obtain foundation support was not successful. Staff is currently working on a voluntary basis, hoping to secure financial resources that will sustain the program.

This grant responds to 2006 Priority Area 1: Promoting Healthy Relationships for Unwed Couples to Improve Children's Financial and Medical Security. The EFF is a an existing voluntary education and support program open to single parents living in Kent County, MI with a child two years-old or younger that provides parenting and other vital life skills information. Parents who are pregnant may volunteer to attend before the birth of their child and the program encourages the attendance of the biological father or any partner of the single parent who will be contributing significantly to raising the child. This grant will enable EFF to expand their provision of parenting and life skills information sessions, promotion of healthy relationships, and linking participants to community resources. The grant will also allow EFF to promote and provide mediation services for their target audience with the aim of improving children's financial and medical security, minimizing the need for adversarial proceedings, and minimizing the need to take formal or punitive actions to collect support.

The evaluation of the project has a 4-pronged approach consisting of: collection of program data, a pre-mediation participant questionnaire, a follow-up participant phone survey, and trend analysis of child support data.

This grant responded to 2006 Priority Area 2: Improving Child Support by Encouraging Parents and CSE Agencies to work Together for Case Management and Results. The Amnesty Project was a collaboration among the Philadelphia Housing Authority (PHA), the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare (DPW), and the First Judicial District of Pennsylvania, Court of Common Pleas, Family Court Division (FCD).

Project Plan

The objective of the Amnesty Project Model program was to reunite parent-couples and their biological child or children so that child and family support could be improved and secured for PHA residents. The assumption was that case managed mediation would help reconcile and mend the ties between parent-couples and their child or children residing in PHA properties.

PHA was the lead agency. PHA: (1) developed the project concept and work plan; (2) initiated and engaged DPW and FCD in the collaborative partnership agreement; and (3), promulgated an memorandum of understanding (MOU) that was signed by each member of the partnership group.

The plan called for the recruitment of 1,000 project participants from a population pool of 4,702 individuals. Prospective custodial parent (CP) participants were known to be Temporary Assistance to Needy Family beneficiaries. Project success rested on the assumptions that eligible parent partners would want to reconcile, renew their ties, and participate in the PHA project.

PHA stirred interests in the plan by offering noncustodial parents (NCPs) the opportunity to be added to the lease of CP partners. PHA also:

• afforded those couples who cooperated the opportunity to participate in self-sufficiency job training and home ownership programs;
• agreed to publicize the project initiative;
• used their professional Communication Department to identify and screen eligible participants;
• sought consent from CPs for NCPs to be added to their PHA lease as a co-tenant of the conventional or mixed-finance housing unit;
• provided eligible couples authorization to participate in PHA-sponsored job-training or job-preparedness programs;
• performed re-certification activities to determine if the couple was eligible for housing according to PHA standards and procedures;
• communicated and coordinated work plan obligations with DPW and FCD; and
• monitored each project participant to ensure compliance with project requirements.

DPW agreed to:

• identify and refer eligible participants to the project;
• evaluate eligible participants’ failure to pay child support;
• initiate actions to suspend petitions with custodial parents’ consent not to collect child-support from eligible NCPs;
• provide case management and monitoring services to assure compliance with the PHA and DPW program requirements;
• communicate and coordinate PHA’s and FCD’s performance obligations as permitted by law; and
• communicate and coordinate project activities and progress to the appropriate authorities in the city of Philadelphia and the District Attorney’s Office.

FCD agreed to communicate and coordinate performance obligations with PHA and DPW on a regularly basis, and to the extent permitted by law, approve the terms and conditions of project agreements as decreed in and through court orders.

Project Findings

The Amnesty Project Model was launched in early June of 2007. It was greatly inhibited in achieving the project objective due to a number of operational constraints, the attitudes and behavior of the prospective PHA client population, and many other challenges that prospective participants could not overcome.

Operational constraints included:

• delays in signing the MOU describing the management plan;
• ineffective and unworkable project approaches, ad campaigns, orientation sessions, and outreach efforts via telephone calls; and
• a general lag and delay with project recruitment and enrollment.

Additionally, there were PHA resident rejections to the core idea. Some PHA residents wanted to participate in the project, but did not want to live with their former partners. Others only wanted to enroll in the project to take advantage of the job training program. Several were afraid of losing public assistance, or they were only interested if child support was put on hold.

There were also prospective participants who were so discouraged about their life circumstance that it kept them from signing the PHA agreement. One or two PHA residents completed the application process, but lost interest because the background check for certification took too long to complete. Others were curious about the project, but angry because they still had to pay child support for a child or children who are now adults and considered emancipated. PHA was able to enroll only one (1) couple, and they were disqualified because of a physical altercation while present on PHA property.

This grant responds to 2006 Priority Area 1: Promoting Healthy Relationships for Unwed Couples to Improve Children's Financial and Medical Security. The project is a collaboration between Family Service Association of San Antonio, Inc., Metropolitan Methodist Hospital, the Division for Families and Children of the Office of the Attorney General of Texas (OAG), and the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio-School of Nursing. Estimating a recruitment of 300 low-income, unwed, pregnant couples a year, the project will test strategies of collaborative interventions designed to enhance the knowledge and understanding of unmarried, new parents concerning the importance and legal significance of paternity establishment, the legal rights and responsibilities they have as parents, and the value of family stability and healthy marriage to the well-being of their children. The goal of the project is to improve child support performance and outcomes for children and families by improving parenting, co-parenting skills, and encouraging healthy marriage.

The project's evaluative design employs random assignment. All 300 of the recruited couples will receive information, brochures, and videos from OAG regarding child support and healthy marriage. The experimental group of 150 of the recruited couples will receive these OAG materials and evidence-based curriculum education services via the "Parents as Teachers" parent education curriculum addressing pre- and early post-natal care, and the "Caring for My Family" co-parenting curriculum for post-natal care 3 to 8 months after the child's birth. The evaluation will measure and compare results for the couples that include improved financial and medical care child outcomes, increased understanding of the child support system and available community services, and an increased marriage rate.