Incorporating Shared Parenting into Title IV-D Michael Hayes – Deputy for Family Initiatives
Jan 03, 2016
Incorporating Shared Parenting into Title IV-D
Michael Hayes – Deputy for Family Initiatives
State Public Policy As Guide
The public policy of this state is to: • Assure that children will have frequent and
continuing contact with parents who have shown the ability to act in the best interest of the child;
• Provide a safe, stable and nonviolent environment for the child; and
• Encourage parents to share in the rights and duties of raising their child after the parents have separated or dissolved their marriage. (Texas Family Code 153.001)
Problems parents in the IV-D program report
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70%
Other parent will not let you see the children*
Do not know where the children live*
Do not know what the court order says aboutvisitation
Other parent does not see the children enough
Other parent does not bring the chidren home ontime after visits
Children are not safe with the other parent
Child does not want to go visit the other parent*
Children live too far away to visit them
There has been hitting and fighting betweenparents*
CP NCP
* Statistical significance
What IV-D staff used to do
0102030405060708090
100
Tell parent childsupport and
parenting time aretwo separate
issues
Tell parents there'snothing child
support can doSuggest the parentcontact an attorney
Refer parents tocommunity services
Refer parent to aspecific worker inthe child supportagency for help
usually sometimes never
What IV-D staff think about access issues
Broad approach to shared parenting services
Access and Visitation Hotline Toll-free, legal education line for noncustodial and custodial parents
Companion legal web site www.txaccess.org
A&V On-line Directory A&V providers by county/services—on IV-D staff desktops
https://www.oag.state.tx.us/cs/access/
Grants to community-/faith-based organizations and local governments Services include: co-parenting education, mediation, supervised visitation,
and legal assistance for enforcement Shared Parenting Project
On-site facilitator at two Child Support units to resolve parenting disputes Parenting Order Legal Clinics - 25 sites
Monthly legal clinics for parents with IV-D child support orders Publications designed to promote cooperative parenting
“For Our Children” “My Sticker Calendar” “Know Before Your Go”
Resources for IV-D staff for referrals
Texas Access and Visitation Hotline
Texas Access and Visitation Provider Map
Resources for IV-D staff to share
Got Visitation? The OAG Child Support Division, in collaboration with the Texas Access to Justice Foundation, now offers free legal clinics to answer parents’ visitation questions.
Please help us: Give parents (custodial and non-custodial) a flyer and ask them to bring all court orders to the next clinic.
Event: In a town hall-style meeting, attorneys explain legal terms, help parents understand their orders, and how to change/enforce orders. OAG attorneys may be present for child support/medical support questions.
Link: http://texaslawhelp.org/link.cfm?2412Lists over 30 monthly clinics by time, date, and location/where to call for free child care/Spanish interpreter.
To Get Flyers: Or other visitation resources, contact the Shared Parenting Coordinator, Anita Stuckey (512) 460-6437 [email protected]
Got Visitation? The OAG Child Support Division, in collaboration with the Texas Access to Justice Foundation, now offers free legal clinics to answer parents’ visitation questions.
Please help us: Give parents (custodial and non-custodial) a flyer and ask them to bring all court orders to the next clinic.
Event: In a town hall-style meeting, attorneys explain legal terms, help parents understand their orders, and how to change/enforce orders. OAG attorneys may be present for child support/medical support questions.
Link: http://texaslawhelp.org/link.cfm?2412Lists over 30 monthly clinics by time, date, and location/where to call for free child care/Spanish interpreter.
To Get Flyers: Or other visitation resources, contact the Shared Parenting Coordinator, Anita Stuckey (512) 460-6437 [email protected]
IV-D staff in partnership with legal aid