How Can Juvenile Departments Educate Teen Fathers on Their Legal and Moral Obligations?

1. How Can Juvenile Departments Educate Teen Fathers on Their Legal and Moral Obligations? Judge Tom C. Rawlings Juvenile Courts, Middle Judicial Circuit Sandersville, Georgia tom@sandersville.net www.tomrawlings.com

2. The Problem

3. NCPS and Teen Fathers • Birthrates declined by 29% from early 1990s to 2000s: 17.4 per thousand in 2002, but data incomplete. • 70% of African American children are born to unwed parents • 1990s: Spent $50 billion on single mothers. Tried to collect that from single fathers. • Of the more than $70 billion in child support debt nationally, 70% is owed by noncustodial parents who have earnings less than$10,000 per year Sources: Kimball, “Teen Fathers: An Introduction.” The Prevention Researcher 11:4 (Nov. 2004); “More Challenges for Young African-American Men,” News & Notes With Ed Gordon, NPR, March 22, 2006; http:www.cffpp.org/publications/pdfs/noncompliance.pdf

4. NCPS and Teen Fathers • 75 percent of low-income fathers live within 10 miles of their child. • 60 percent of low-income fathers have no high school education. • 70 percent of them have been arrested. • Only 43 percent of low-income nonpaying fathers work in the labor market, and a third of them have been unemployed for more than three years. Source: Rawlings, “Office Aims to Fix Child Support,” Fulton County Daily Report July 17, 2006

5. Assumptions About Teen Fathers • Psychologically Unstable • Unable to Offer Support to Young Mothers • Deadbeat, No-Good, Hoodlums. Source: Kimball, “Teen Fathers: An Introduction.” The Prevention Researcher 11:4 (Nov. 2004)

6. Risk Factors for Teen Fatherhood • Low academic performance and school dropout • Low family income • Antisocial behavior • High arrest rates • Rate of teen fatherhood among high-level delinquents twice that among non-offenders. • Deviant peer association Source: Kimball, “Teen Fathers: An Introduction.” The Prevention Researcher 11:4 (Nov. 2004)

7. The Research

8. Steps that Work • Engage Fathers in lives of children at a young age • Require AND Enable fathers to do it. • Strengthen fathers’ relationships with children • Change fathers’ attitudes toward work AND employers’ attitudes Source: Interview with Prof. Ron Mincy, NPR, March 22, 2006, News & Notes with Ed Gordon

9. Six Steps to Restoring Fathers • Teach Men to Be Good Parents • Focus on Responsibility • Set High Expectations • Tailor Program to Young Men • Discuss Pregnancy Prevention • Partner with Male Adult Role Models Source: Sylvester and Reich, Restoring Fathers to Families and Communities, Social Policy Action Network (2000)

10. Six Steps to Restoring Fathers • Improve Relationships With Mothers • “Fair Share” program to help NCPs work out visitation, custody, and other issues • Co-parenting • Federal Marriage Initiative Source: Sylvester and Reich, Restoring Fathers to Families and Communities, Social Policy Action Network (2000)

11. Six Steps to Restoring Fathers • Remove Work Barriers for Low-Income Fathers • Employment counseling • Indiana program teaches difference between dressing for the neighborhood and dressing for work. • Job-search assistance • Access to short-term training programs • Referrals to MH and SA treatment • Job-retention services Source: Sylvester and Reich, Restoring Fathers to Families and Communities, Social Policy Action Network (2000); NPR, News & Notes with Ed Gordon, March 22, 2006

12. Six Steps to Restoring Fathers • Use Federal Funds to Fund Fathers’ Programs • TANF funds can be used to pay for employment assistnace, job training, SA treatment, marriage counseling, mediation, and child care Source: Sylvester and Reich, Restoring Fathers to Families and Communities, Social Policy Action Network (2000)

13. Six Steps to Restoring Fathers • Make the Child Support System Work for Families • States have discretion under current law to suspend, reduce, or forgive child support debts owed to the State. • Participation in program as a way to re-obtain license suspended for CS nonpayment Source: Sylvester and Reich, Restoring Fathers to Families and Communities, Social Policy Action Network (2000)

14. Six Steps to Restoring Fathers 6. Reinforce the Message that Fathers Matter Source: Sylvester and Reich, Restoring Fathers to Families and Communities, Social Policy Action Network (2000)

15. Some Interesting Programs

16. Four Essential Areas Programs for Young Fathers Must Address: • Legal Aspects of Fatherhood • Self-Sufficiency • Effective Parenting • Behavioral Issues – Health Lifestyle. Source: Smith, Buzzi & Weinman (2002)

17. MELD for Young Dads • Gathers young fathers in a group setting • Addresses practical, emotional, social, and educational needs of fathers • Recruits and trains male volunteers from the community to facilitate groups • Provides support for young dads for two years www.ParentsAsTeachers.org Regina.Law_Smith@ParentsAsTeachers.org (706) 506-5001

18. FLORIDA: REACHING TEEN FATHERS IN JUVENILE DETENTION • Program ran weekly for 5 years in a Florida detention facility. • David Cardno Director, Father & Child Resource Center 2026 S.E. Ocean Blvd. Stuart, FL 34996 772 463 2888 fatherdaveus@yahoo.com

19. Teen Fathers at the BOOT Camp A Joint Project of: The Martin County Sheriff’s Office The Father and Child Resource Center

20. The Juvenile Offender Training Center Young men- 14-18, non-violent crimes, DJJ Level 6 Minimum 1 year- 3 stages- BOOT, Academy, Day Treatment (4 levels at each stage) Serves 5 counties The most successful in the state (78% non- recidivism) Nationally Recognized

21. Identified during screening Self-identified at later stage Interview to establish - commitment - relationship with mother - relationship with child Participation is voluntary and considered a privilege Participation is limited to Academy or late in BOOT process Recruitment of Fathers

22. Components Parenting Classes Read Me a Story Relationship Counseling Financial Responsibility Transition to Family Life

23. Parenting Classes Early childhood and school readiness issues: • Early Bonding and Attachment • Quality Child Care • Early Literacy • Discipline • Health and Nutrition • Child Safety • Fatherhood Plus: • Paternity Acknowledgement • Family Budgeting Family Class- Mother and Baby attend. Dad plays with baby, changes diapers, and talks with Mom (one hug allowed) I AM YOUR CHILD VIDEO SERIES

24. Read Me a Story • New story recorded each month • Book and tape go home with mother • Mom encouraged to play tape everyday

25. Relationship Counseling • Communication Skills • Resolving Conflict • Co-parenting

26. Financial Responsibility • Extra Chores • Publix Supermarkets Donations

27. Transition A Parenting Journal For • Daily Journal- reviewed weekly Stephen and Tamia

28. Paternity Establishment Lack of Relationship Correctional Environment Missing Role model Educational Level Long-term Results Challenges

29. How Do We Measure Success ? One father at a time

31. TEXAS: PUTTING FATHERHOOD EDUCATION IN THE SCHOOLS • Attorney General’s Office Developed Parenting and Paternity Awareness (PAPA) • Taught in Schools: Trained 2000 teachers so far, mostly family and consumer sciences • Michael Hayes, Texas Attorney General’s Office • (512) 460-6218 • Michael.Hayes@cs.oag.state.tx.us

32. Funding!!! • Federal Office of Child Support Enforcement • http://www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/grants_cse.html • Responsible Fatherhood and Health Marriage Grants • http://www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/grants_ofa.html • State Office of Child Support • Safe and Stable Families Program • United Way • Faith-Based Organizations

33. QUESTIONS?www.tomrawlings.com