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DC Fathering Court: Helping Non-Custodial Parents Make a Fresh Start

The DC Fathering Court program offers job training, counseling, and support to non-custodial parents in the District of Columbia who have not been making child support payments, with the overall objective of increasing their contribution to their children's financial and emotional well-being.

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DC Fathering Court: Helping Non-Custodial Parents Make a Fresh Start

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  1. DC Fathering Court

  2. What is the Fathering Court? A program that offer non-custodial parents who have not been making child support payments in the District of Columbia, for a long time, a chance to make a fresh start. The Fathering Court offers job training, counseling, a job, and support to get their lives back on track.

  3. Overall Objective To increase the number of non-custodial parents contributing to the financial and emotional wellbeing of their children as measured by: • Compliance with outstanding child support orders; • Increased contact with their children; and, • Improved co-parenting relationships with the custodial of their children.

  4. DC Fathering Court Program It’s really about children and families Parents will be educated, counseled and encouraged to place the needs of their children first. The Fathers Court will give non-custodial parents the tools to become financially and emotionally responsible for their children.

  5. Participants The program will enroll 45 non-custodial Parents Participants are primarily referred by DC Superior Court, Court Services & Offender Supervision Agency (SCOSA) and Office of Attorney General Child Support Division (CSSD). DC Superior Court Logo

  6. Eligibility Fathers Court participation will be voluntary. Participants must have child support orders for children who live in the District of Columbia. The legal custodian/guardian must agree to support the overall efforts of the program.

  7. Eligibility cont. Participation will be limited to non-custodial parents without a history of domestic violence and without prior convictions involving weapons or any other violent offenses. Non-custodial parents with serious unresolved mental health or substance abuse issues will not be eligible.

  8. Be at least 18 years old and reside in the District of Columbia Have an active child support obligation in the District of Columbia Not have any prior convictions of child or sexual abuse. Anyone currently on the Child Offender Registry is not allowed to participate Not have any prior convictions of domestic violence Not have any ongoing chemical or substance abuse. Participants may be subject to drug testing if substance abuse issues arise Not be currently receiving SSI or SSDI Not be currently enrolled in high school Who Can Participate?

  9. Fathers Court Program Design • Clear and objective goals for participants • Accountability to the Court • An individualized plan of action • Compliance encouraged by wide range of rewards and sanctions • Measurable outcomes • Program Graduation • Fathers Fraternity

  10. Job training & job placement Bi-weekly support group meetings. A chance to discuss re-entry issues with other parents in the re-entry process Personal financial management training Program graduation Fathering classes Fathers Fraternity Counseling & Treatment Case Management Court Supervision A chance to build a relationship with your child(ren) What can participants get out of it?

  11. Father’s Fraternity • Following graduation participants will have the opportunity to join a Fathers' Fraternity that will: • partner with community based support groups. • serve as community-based continuum of holistic support • provide the graduates with an arena within which to address issues that arise in their daily lives.

  12. Healthy Families Thriving Communities Collaborative Council University of the District of Columbia Criminal Justice Coordinating Council Urban Institute Fathering Court Partners Bureau of Prisons Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency (CSOSA) OAG Child Support Service DC Superior Court Department of Human Services

  13. If the parent is not empowered to meet their children in their world; the children will be left with no other choice but to meet their parent in their world.

  14. Fathering Court Contact Information Anyone interested in getting more information about the Fathering Court shouldemail Ron Scott, Program Director Ron.Scott@dcsc.gov; or Call a CSSD Paternity and Community Outreach Specialist 202-724-2198.

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