Fairfield Fatherhood Program Receives 2009 Federal Funding
March 13, 2009
COLUMBIA, SC – March 13, 2009 – On Wednesday, President Barack Obama signed the Omnibus Appropriations Act that includes $140,000 in 2009 appropriations for the Midlands Fatherhood Coalition in Fairfield County and the South Carolina Center for Fathers and Families.
The federal funding will support an Alternative to Incarceration (ATI) program, called Jobs Not Jail, in rural Fairfield County. Through the ATI program, noncustodial low-income fathers who are behind in child support payments due to unemployment or underemployment are court-ordered into a rigorous, six-month program instead of going to jail. Men ordered into the program must secure livable wage employment within 30 days, begin making monthly child support payments within 45 days and participate in weekly group sessions and the overall fatherhood program for six months.
“We are very grateful and want to thank Congressman Spratt and Senator Graham for their support and request for funding of the Jobs Not Jail program in Fairfield County,” said Keith Ivey, site director for the Fairfield County location of the Midlands Fatherhood Coalition. “This funding will enable around 40 men to secure, improve or keep decent jobs, allowing them to meet important child support obligations and become independent, working members of the community. Equally important the Jobs Not Jail component saves taxpayers considerably in incarceration costs.”
While in the program, participants also increase job readiness and employment skills, improve parenting and co-parenting skills, increase time spent with their children, access transportation and become involved responsible fathers.
The Alternative to Incarceration for non-payment of child support model was developed by Father to Father in North Charleston and has been successfully replicated in seven other fatherhood programs supported by the South Carolina Center for Fathers and Families. “Over the past two years, 755 fathers went through the Alternative to Incarceration component in eight of our 12 fatherhood program sites,” said Chris Myers, chairperson of the South Carolina Center for Fathers and Families. “While in the program these fathers paid $1,020,980 in child support and arrears that otherwise would have been uncollected. Over $5 million was saved in incarceration costs.”
“Thanks to Congressman Spratt and Senator Graham we can expand this successful program into Fairfield County where we can divert 40 fathers from a costly six-month average incarceration to a beneficial fatherhood program,” said Myers. “The cost savings to taxpayers will near $300,000 and help reduce overcrowding in the local detention center. The long-term benefits are immeasurable.”
About the Midlands Fatherhood Coalition
The Midlands Fatherhood Coalition, serving Fairfield, Lexington and Richland counties, is a community-based program designed to strengthen families through father engagement. A 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, the Coalition provides comprehensive assessment and intervention services to low-income fathers ages 18 and up, and offers programs focused on four main themes: increasing self-awareness; cooperative parenting skills; father engagement and financial support of their children.
Established in 1998 the Fairfield program has over ten years experience serving fathers in Fairfield County. For the past ten years this program has consistently served fathers, re-engaging them with their children and helping them become better and more productive citizens.
About the South Carolina Center for Fathers and Families
The South Carolina Center for Fathers Families, a faith-based, nonprofit organization, develops and supports a statewide infrastructure that strengthens relationships between fathers and families throughout South Carolina. The Center, a ministry of the Sisters of Charity Health System, assists fathers in reducing barriers that may prevent them from providing both emotionally and materially for their children by providing ongoing leadership, resource development and support raising and leveraging funds and other resources for six fatherhood programs, serving 12 locations throughout the state. The Center was founded in 2002 as an outgrowth of the Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina’s Fatherhood Initiative.
