Fatherhood program

When DCSS becomes aware of the parent’s need for services, the agent may make a referral to the program or the parent may ask to enter the program. It’s important to understand that participation by the parent is voluntary.

Once the parent agrees to participate and is enrolled in the program, they must comply with the participant requirements. Which includes:

• Paying child support while enrolled in the program;
• Gaining employment within 90 days;
• Providing updates at each accountability session;
• Diligent job searches immediately upon entering the program by registering with the Department of Labor and other employment agencies;
• Reporting new employment within 2 days of accepting any position;
• Being accountable, including treating the program as if it were a job

If a parent fails to complete the program, (i.e. fails to pay child support or fails to contact their Fatherhood Agent, as required) all enforcement activities will resume as allowed by Georgia law.

DCSS makes several attempts contact the parent in order to bring them back into compliance. An automated notice is mailed when a parent becomes thirty, sixty or more days delinquent warning them of the consequences and administrative actions that can occur. These include, but are not limited to, denial or suspension of any license, certificate, permit or vehicle tag registration. After a 90 day delinquency, the child support agent mails another warning notice giving the parent several options to bring them into compliance, including an opportunity for the parent to request an administrative hearing regarding the driver’s license suspension. That includes an opportunity to receive Fatherhood or other outreach services to assist them, if they are unemployed or underemployed.

The failure of a parent to respond to these notices can result in the administrative actions noted earlier as well as being found in contempt of their court order.  The most common enforcement remedy is driver’s license suspension.

The good news:

1. If a parent requests an administrative hearing, GA DCSS will suspend all actions pending the results of the hearing, or
2. If they contact their agent to ask about the Fatherhood Program and they are eligible and they enter the program, it is a second alternative to administrative license suspension while they are participating in the program.

Parents who complete the program must work and pay their child support for ninety consecutive days. Upon successful completion, the case will be monitored by the local child support office. If a parent does not complete the program (i.e. does not pay child support or contact their Fatherhood Agent, as required), all enforcement activities will resume as required by Georgia law and the parent cannot re-enroll in the program for nine months.

DCSS and the Department of Corrections and Pardons and Parole have partnered to offer “Re-entry Services”. DCSS provides services to incarcerated noncustodial parents who need them the most because returning citizens have barriers linked to education, employment, and they also have to overcome a criminal record. To accomplish these goals, Fatherhood Agents visit Georgia prisons and educate residents on DCSS services.

Where paternity has not yet been established we provide Paternity Testing to prove parenthood. Then we assist the parent with tools to begin forming bonds with their child, and to expedite the support process once they are released. The Fatherhood Program includes information about 1) Being a better parent, Access and Visitation and Legitimation.

Where a noncustodial parent already has a case we discuss how to re-establish contact with their child(ren), and communicate ways to resolve issues regarding their child support case after they have been released back into the community.

Another Re-Entry Initiative
Parental Access, Visitation, and Education (P.A.V.E.) Program. It’s in all thirteen Transitional Centers (TC) statewide for residents with an active child support cases. The PAVE program focuses on the importance of choices, education, and skills to cope with life post-incarceration. Efforts are made to connect/reconnect residents with their children through visitation days with their families.

There are currently two opportunities to assist noncustodial parents in some regions of the state:

Homeless Veterans Initiative
A Metro-Atlanta Partnership where Fatherhood services are provided and coordinated with Legal Aid and Veterans Affairs to address the needs of veteran participants.

Enhanced Transition Jobs Development Grant
Through a DCSS partnership with Goodwill Industries and the US Department of Labor, Goodwill provides subsidized employment to noncustodial parents with a child support case. Areas served are Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Fulton, Gwinnett, and Henry counties.