1. Georgia Division of Child Support Services Department of Human Services
Outreach Services

2. 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

3. 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

4. Georgia Division of Child Support Services Key Initiatives
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
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

5. 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
*MOU between DCSS & DOC
* Fatherhood Agents have visited 48 prisons
*Served 661 cases involving 751 children
*148 inmates have signed consent paternity acknowledgments
*525 requested DNA
*305 paternity established by DNA
*92 excluded by DNA
*46 cases pending results
*82 cases closed

6. 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
*MOU between DCSS & DOC
* Fatherhood Agents have visited 48 prisons
*Served 661 cases involving 751 children
*148 inmates have signed consent paternity acknowledgments
*525 requested DNA
*305 paternity established by DNA
*92 excluded by DNA
*46 cases pending results
*82 cases closed

7. 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 payments
*MOU between DCSS & DOC
* Fatherhood Agents have visited 48 prisons
*Served 661 cases involving 751 children
*148 inmates have signed consent paternity acknowledgments
*525 requested DNA
*305 paternity established by DNA
*92 excluded by DNA
*46 cases pending results
*82 cases closed

8. Georgia Division of Child Support Services Problem Solving Court
Intake
Complete assessments, forms and interviews
Initial Drug Screening
Drivers License Reinstatement Review
Phase I
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

9. 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 counseling, mental health or substance abuse

10. Georgia Division of Child Support Services Problem Solving Court
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

11. Georgia Division of Child Support Services Department of Human Services
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