Transcript Handout # 2
Georgia Division of Child Support Services Department of Human Services Outreach Services Georgia Division of Child Support Services A New Way of Thinking… Name change from “Child Support Enforcement” to “Child Support Services” in 2006 Added two key values to value statement • Put Children First • Children Need Both Parents “Government should be a resource to families, not a substitute” •Parent Accountability •Investment in our citizens and the community Established new outreach programs and enhanced others 2 Georgia Division of Child Support Services A New Way of Thinking 60.63% of NCPs paid as ordered by the courts on a consistent basis 79.25% of NCPs paid something on their child support case Approximately 7% of NCPs on caseload are incarcerated NCPs not paying as ordered are being referred to court over and over again for non-payment Remainder either will not pay or have so many barriers to employment that they cannot pay • 34% of NCPs in the Fatherhood Program do not have a GED • 84% of NCPs in the Fatherhood Program have a criminal record 14% 7% 60% 19% Paying as Ordered Incarcerrated Paying occasionally Other 3 Georgia Division of Child Support Services Key Initiatives • Fatherhood Program – Serves 3,000 NCPs per year • Re-entry Services – Partnership with DOC to assist NCPs with re-entry into society • Prison Paternity Testing – Voluntary testing done at all Georgia prisons; 17-20% exclusion rate • Problem Solving Court – Child support alternative to incarceration • Homeless Veterans Initiative – Metro Atlanta Pilot partnering with Legal Aid and Veterans Affairs; one of 10 cities selected by Feds • Community Outreach Council – Focus group to find ways to help NCPs and CPs become self sufficient 4 Georgia Division of Child Support Services Prison Paternity • Memorandum of Understanding between Department of Corrections and Child Support • Alleged NCPs are identified through our tracking systems • Fatherhood agent provides informational briefing to inmate on the importance of being a Father • Fatherhood agents trained and certified to conduct genetic testing and conduct testing on those that volunteer • Third round of visiting all prisons in the state • 17-20% exclusion rate • 90% of inmates volunteer for genetic testing or sign paternity acknowledgement form 5 Georgia Division of Child Support Services Fatherhood Program • Georgia Fatherhood Program is an elective program that teaches NCPs “how to fish” by assisting them in identifying, addressing and removing barriers to self sufficiency, such as; • Unemployment • Underemployment • Criminal background • Education • Substance abuse • Little or no involvement with their children • Program offers life skill workshops, short term training and education opportunities, address state arrears and criminal history • Statewide program served over 6,000 during the ARRA period. Has served over 30,000 men and women since its inception • Fatherhood stats: • 89% of participants are male and 11% are female • 34% of NCPs in the Fatherhood Program do not have a GED • 84% of NCPs in the Fatherhood Program have a criminal record 6 Georgia Division of Child Support Services Prison Re-entry Program • 7% of caseload consists of incarcerated NCPs, approximately 11,000 NCPs • Re-entry program designed to keep men from going “Underground” to avoid paying child support • Demonstration Project conducted at Clayton Transition Center using the Access and Visitation Model • Partnering with Department of Corrections to address barriers (housing, employment, education, etc.) before re-integration into the local community • Targeted at the 11 Transition Centers throughout the state • 6-8 week curriculum that addresses the following: • education and job assessment • access and visitation (two planned visits per cycle) • paternity/legitimation • case update and education from local office • Program evaluated by Georgia State to determine effectiveness on child support 7 payments Georgia Division of Child Support Services Problem Solving Court Intake • • • Phase I Complete assessments, forms and interviews Initial Drug Screening Drivers License Reinstatement Review • • • • • Regularly attend Group Sessions Meet with Coordinator Weekly/Bi-Weekly Pass Random Drug Screen Complete weekly verifiable 40-hour job search Communicate/Cooperate with DCSS Program Phases Phase II • • • • • • • Obtain Full-time employment with IDO or making payments for 3-6 months Pass Random Drug Screen Negotiate payment on State arrears Access and Visitation Activity Seek legitimation rights Attend Family Counseling Communicate/Cooperate with DCSS Graduation • Successfully completed all phases 8 Georgia Division of Child Support Services Problem Solving Court Judge-Decision Maker Participants Child Support Agent Problem Solving Court Coordinator Community Resources for job training or employment opportunities Community Services such as 9 counseling, mental health or substance abuse Georgia Division of Child Support Services Problem Solving Court $20,000 $18,838 $17,115 $18,000 $16,000 $14,000 $12,000 Treatment Group Comparison Group Difference $10,000 $8,000 $6,000 $4,000 $1,723 $537.00 $54.00 $483.00 $2,000 $0 Annual Collections Monthly Collections Preliminary findings from “AOC Carroll County Child Support Court (CCCSC) Preliminary Evaluation Findings. Applied Research Services, Inc., June 25, 2010." conducted by Applied Research Services and the Georgia Administrative Office of the Courts 10 Georgia Division of Child Support Services Department of Human Services Questions?