The program had three main goals: (1) to increase the employment and earnings of unemployed or underemployed noncustodial parents, (2) to increase child support payment, and (3) to support and improve parenting behavior.
Case managers helped coordinate services for participants, including job-readiness training, job search assistance, and job placement. Participants had contact with their case managers at least once a month. Each site also provided parenting or relationship skills workshops and child support-related services. Some sites provided substance use disorder and mental health services, job skills training, transitional jobs, and work supports. Participants could receive services from the program for one year. Although participation in the program was not mandatory, nonparticipation could result in jail time.
To be eligible for the program, a participant was required to be a noncustodial parent, a recipient of public assistance, unemployed or earn less than 200 percent of the federal poverty level, and have a child support order. This program took place in Buffalo, Jamestown, Syracuse, and New York City, NY.
The Strengthening Families Through Stronger Fathers Initiative provided employment services and other supports to noncustodial parents with low income who were not current on their child support payments.