Low-income, non-custodial fathers' complex problems and situations require much time and effort from fatherhood program staff.  The problems usually involve long-standing issues requiring considerable time to realize change.  Nonetheless, much has been accomplished over the past six years with more than 2,729 men participating in the 12 fatherhood program sites.  The men vary in age ranging from 19 to 65 years with the majority (65%) between the ages of 19 and 35.

Family Status
(Upon entering the program)

• 75% unmarried (63% never married, 11% divorced and widowed)
• 14% married
• 11% separated
• 14 men married their children's mother while in the program.

Education
Participants' educational levels are low. Program data on 2,520 men showed

• 42% did not have a degree upon entering the program
• 38% had a high school degree
• 15% had a GED
• 3% had earned a technical college and college degree respectively

The programs worked with...

• 169 men on receiving primary education;
• 160 on secondary education and GED preparation,
• 77 on post-secondary education.

Employment
Men in fatherhood programs make major requests for employment.

• Only 40 percent of the fathers were employed upon entering the program.
• Fifty-nine percent reported longest full-time employment with one employer was for five years or less. 
• Of 2,437 men who entered the program, 60 percent were unemployed.

As a result of being in the program...

• 408 obtained employment
• 214 improved their earnings
• 597 received job training
• 609 continue to look for work

Children and Support Issues
Child support and visitation are often major challenges for fathers.  Of men with child support orders, 72 percent were unemployed upon entering the program and only 28 percent were employed.

• 79% had children under age 18 not living with them
• 64% had child support orders upon entering the program while only 20% (422) had visitation orders

As a result, of being in the program,

• 123 fathers established child support.
• 109 men had their child support modified.

Relationships
Strengthening and developing healthy family relationship occurred for the fathers in the program.

• 626 had initial or first reconnecting contacts with their children.
• 196 improved relationships with their children's mother.
• 261 men initially unable to visit their children now visit them without legal intervention.

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