Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development

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Friday, June 26, 1998 Governor Tommy G. Thompson Secretary Linda Stewart

News Media Contact Michael H. McCoy 608/267-4400 e-mail: mccoymi@dwd.state.wi.us fax: 608/266-1784

For more information contact:
Barbara Murphy, DWD, 608/266-3348 (o) or 608/274-8041 (h)

State conference to focus on
non-custodial fathers’ role

Madison, Wis. -- An estimated 150 persons will gather in southeastern Wisconsin Monday (June 29) to learn more about governmental programs to help non-custodial fathers remain involved in the lives of their children.

The "Technical Assistance for Working Fathers Initiatives" conference is being sponsored by the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development at the Country Inn in Pewaukee.

"While the emphasis in welfare reform over the past few years has been on the female recipients of Aid to Families with Dependent Children," Linda Stewart said, "we can not ignore the need for the involvement of the fathers in the lives of their children."

Stewart, the state’s Secretary of Workforce Development who will open the conference, said that, "too often, dads have been seen only as a source of income through child support collection. For some, helping them to get involved in their children’s lives was not a priority -- or even a real consideration."

"We now know that this involvement often is crucial to the development of their children, and we must get beyond the punitive nature of earlier programs. Those efforts served to separate men from their responsibilities as fathers."

Stewart said a secondary purpose of the conference was to share information about how federal "welfare to work" funds can be used to help. Stewart’s agency helps administer the funds in Wisconsin.

Expected to attend are managers from state Job Centers, child support agencies, Private Industry Councils, family courts, county human service agencies, and others.

Those who attend will learn about:

• state-of-the-art employment and parenting programs for helping more non-custodial fathers assume the emotional and financial responsibility for their children.
  
• ways to reach and serve non-custodial parents, using Wisconsin’s W-2 program, the federal "welfare to work" efforts, and similar initiatives.
  
• changes in child support and family court systems designed to move from strict enforcement to empowerment.
  
• the insights gained by those who already are working effectively with non-custodial parents.

Among the two dozen or so speakers at the conference, which starts at 9 a.m., are:

• Charles Ballard, founder and chief executive officer of the Institute for Responsible Fatherhood and Family Revitalization, Washington, D.C.
  
• Jeffrey Johnson of the National Center for Strategic Nonprofit Planning and Community Leadership, Washington, D.C.
  
• Jerry Hamilton, manager of Children Upfront, Racine, who will discuss the philosophy of fatherhood programs.
  
• George Brown Jr., manager of the fatherhood program for the Chicago region of the U.S. Health and Human Services Department.

The conference will end about 4 p.m.

---

Technical Assistance for Working Fathers Initiatives
Country Inn, Pewaukee

8:30 Registration

9:00 General Session Grand Ballroom South

Greeting: Linda Stewart, Secretary, Department of Workforce Development

The Philosophy of Fatherhood Programs: Jerry Hamilton, Manager, Children Upfront, Racine

10:00-10:50 First Breakout Sessions

The Changing Culture of Child Support Enforcement Somerset Room

Barbara Cleveland, Director of Peer Learning and Education, Washington D.C.
Joseph Mason, Program Administrator, Non-Custodial Parent Services Unit, Child Support Division, Chicago
George Brown, Jr., Manager, Fatherhood Program, Region 5, U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services

The panelists will present information on the current trends in child support enforcement, with a focus on the changing culture --from a strictly punitive enforcement focus to an empowering, cooperative focus that serves both custodial and non-custodial parents.

Reaching the Target Population Meadowbrook East

Jim Jones, Case Manager, Children Upfront, Racine
Ruth Sachse, Forward Service Corporation, Rhinelander

The panelists will present information on effective outreach and recruitment strategies, case management techniques, and other program components that are effective in attaching non-custodial parents to the workforce and improving their emotional connection to their children.

Funding for Non-Custodial Parent Programs Meadowbrook West

Shawn Smith, WtW Policy Lead, DWD Division of Economic Support
Sandy Ebert, Non-Custodial Parent Policy Lead, DWD Division of Economic Support
Russ Staerkel, Wis. Information System (WIMS) Specialist, DWD Division of Workforce Excellence
Bob Nikolay, Chief, Workforce Development Section, DWD Budget Bureau

The panelists will present information on existing programs and funding streams in the Department of Workforce Development which can be used to serve non-custodial parents, such as Welfare to Work, W-2, child care, FSET and Children First. The focus will be on eligibility requirements, allowable activities and program expectations.

Understanding the Child Support System Woodfield D

Deborah B. Price, Managing Attorney, Waukesha County Child Support Agency
Beverly Patterson, Program Manager, Kenosha County Child Support Agency

This workshop will present service providers in community-based organizations with an overview of Wisconsin’s child support program. The panelists will discuss the history and purpose of the child support program, the functions of county child support agencies and their relationship other human service agencies, and changes in federal and state child support policies which will have a significant impact on child support agencies, payers, and children.

10:50-11:00 Break

11:00-11:50 Second Breakout Sessions

Understanding the Family Court Structure Somerset

Melony Howard, Case Manager, Children First Program, Waukesha Workforce Development Center
David Pike, Waukesha County Family Court Commissioner
Linda Saafir, Waukesha County Assistant Corporation Counsel
Josie Cusma, Family Court Counselor

The panelists will present information on the family court structure from the non-custodial parent’s perspective. They will also discuss the review process, modifications and custody issues.

National Models and Best Practices Meadowbrook East

Charles Ballard, Founder & CEO, Institute for Responsible Fatherhood & Family Revitalization, Washington, D.C.
Jerry Hamilton, Manager, Children Upfront, Racine
Jeffrey Johnson, National Center for Strategic Nonprofit Planning and Community Leadership, Washington D.C.

The panelists will discuss ways to develop and enhance fatherhood programs. Discussion will include PPF, Team Parenting, Healthy Start, Access & Visitation, Child Focus, and CBO involvement.

Funding for Non-Custodial Parent Programs Meadowbrook West

Shawn Smith, WtW Policy Lead, DWD Division of Economic Support
Sandy Ebert, Non-Custodial Parent Policy Lead, DWD Division of Economic Support
Russ Staerkel, Wis. Information System (WIMS) Specialist, DWD Division of Workforce Excellence
Bob Nikolay, Chief, Workforce Development Section, DWD Budget Bureau

The panelists will present information on existing programs and funding streams in the Department of Workforce Development which can be used to serve non-custodial parents, such as Welfare to Work, W-2, child care, FSET and Children First. The focus will be on eligibility requirements, allowable activities and program expectations.

Building Partnerships Woodfield D

Sue Gleason, One Stop Coordinator, DWD Division of Workforce Excellence
Bev Patterson, Child Support Program Manager, Kenosha County
Kevin Loes, Goodwill Industries, Kenosha County

This session will focus on Wisconsin's One Stop shopping approach to workforce development through Job Centers and how one county's fatherhood program operates within the Job Center environment. Learn about the philosophy behind the state's 78 Job Centers and their employment and training programs and what happens when the field of child support intersects with the employment and training field. Some good lessons have been learned by broadening the approach and maximizing the resources available to both fields.

12 Noon Luncheon Grand Ballroom South

State of the Art in Working Fatherhood Programs: Jeffrey Johnson, President, National Center for Strategic Nonprofit Planning and Community Leadership, Washington D.C.

1:45-2:35 Third Breakout Sessions

The Changing Culture of Child Support Enforcement Somerset Room

Barbara Cleveland, Director of Peer Learning and Education, Washington D.C.
Joseph Mason, Program Administrator, Non-Custodial Parent Services Unit, Child Support Division, Chicago
George Brown, Jr., Manager, Fatherhood Program, Region 5, U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services

The panelists will present information on the current trends in child support enforcement, with a focus on the changing culture --from a strictly punitive enforcement focus to an empowering, cooperative focus that serves both custodial and non-custodial parents.

National Models and Best Practices Meadowbrook East

Charles Ballard, Founder & CEO, Institute for Responsible Fatherhood & Family Revitalization, Washington, D.C.
Jerry Hamilton, Manager, Children Upfront, Racine
Jeffrey Johnson, National Center for Strategic Nonprofit Planning and Community Leadership, Washington D.C.

The panelists will discuss ways to develop and enhance fatherhood programs. Discussion will include PPF, Team Parenting, Healthy Start, Access & Visitation, Child Focus, and CBO involvement.

Understanding Community- and Faith-Based Organizations Meadowbrook West

William H. Locke, Executive Director, Community Enterprises of Greater Milwaukee

The panelists will present information about the different types of community- and faith-based organizations, the services they provide, their missions and philosophies, and how they can fit into the service delivery structure for non-custodial parents programs.

Employment Interventions and Strategies Woodfield D

Pete Van Ness, Program Team Leader, DWD Division of Economic Support
Vern Lovley, Veterans Employment Service, DWD Division of Workforce Excellence, Waukesha
John Hooper, Owner, Cove Inc.
Melony Howard, Case Manager, Children First Program, Waukesha Workforce Development Center

This client group represents some unique challenges to programs and case management staff who provide the direct services. This workshop will cover three important areas focusing on employment services and strategies. The three topical areas include: (1) A profile of an outstanding case manager including personal characteristics and specific skill sets; (2) The "Best Practices" of an outstanding case manager; and, (3) the panoply of "resources" needed to get clients employed and keep them employed.

2:35 Break

2:45-4:00 Wrap up and Networking Grand Ballroom South

A chance to talk in greater depth with those who made presentations during the day -- and with each other -- to gain ideas and insights on existing or proposed fatherhood programs in the state, and on planning and designing your own program to serve non-custodial parents in your community.

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