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Building Assets for Fathers and Families in Washington State

Building Assets for Fathers and Families in Washington State. David Stillman Assistant Secretary for Economic Services Washington State Department of Social and Health Services. The Backdrop . Families are struggling to meet their everyday financial needs

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Building Assets for Fathers and Families in Washington State

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  1. Building Assets for Fathers and Familiesin Washington State David Stillman Assistant Secretary for Economic Services Washington State Department of Social and Health Services

  2. The Backdrop • Families are struggling to meet their everyday financial needs • Unemployment and intermittent employment are a continuing challenge • Financial education is a proven tool to help overcome debt management deficits • The economic struggle of one parent affects the entire family in every household – perhaps even more so in the families served by the child support program

  3. What Previous Research Suggests • The combination of income from work and the regular receipt of child support payments is a powerful combination and helps single parent families avoid or leave public assistance. • A parent whose child support obligation has been established at an accurate and reasonable amount and who is not burdened with significant arrears and/or other debts is more likely to pay consistently in the future

  4. Why BAFFI? • The characteristics of chronic non-payers includes: • Child Support Orders established by default, often with inaccurate orders set at high monthly amounts • Large child support arrears + other obligations • Few resources, if any to fall back on during times of unemployment • Often non-tax-filers

  5. Project Goals • Serve over 600 Noncustodial parents • Provide an array of customized asset building services to address: • Financial stability and financial education • Credit repair and credit score improvement • Cash flow analysis • Individual Development Accounts • Banking and Alternatives to High Cost Practices • Debt Management (including child support order management) • Access to EITC and Tax Preparation Services • Use of Order Modification and Debt Compromise Adjustments to Encourage Participation (when appropriate) • Linkage to Employment, Education, and Basic Need Services (Housing, Food, Medical, Childcare)

  6. Two Delivery Sites • Partnership between Division of Child Support (DCS) and asset-building experts: • Washington State Asset Building Coalition • Lower Columbia Community Action Program (AFI grantee) • Spokane Neighborhood Action Program (AFI grantee) • Services in 5 Eastern & Southwest WA Counties • Over 1 million people reside in these communities • High prevalence of poverty: • 14% of residents live in poverty (statewide average of 11%) • Minorities face even higher rates exceeding 30% • 18% of residents receive a form of public assistance • Two DCS Offices primarily serve these counties

  7. Asset Building for Parents in the Child Support Program Operational Model • Identify parents already being served by both systems • Develop outreach plan for targeted groups: • Phase 1 - Low income parents with intermittent child support payments from an employment source • Phase 2 - Parents with no regular payment history • Phase 3 - Low income parents current with their child support obligations • Develop ways to address fears w/ formal financial system • Specialized caseload to track impact to child support performance measures • Strong focus on evaluation criteria and outcomes

  8. Progress to Date • Operating procedures and the management information system are in place • Over 100 enrolled participantsreceiving services • Already receiving individual reports of success and testimonials

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