COLUMBUS, Ohio – While dads are at the forefront on Father's Day, they're often left behind in the child welfare system.

But some agencies in Ohio are making efforts to change that.

Ann Ream, director of protective services for Summit County Children's Services, explains that when a dad is living with the family, there are restrictions in the availability of assistance available for a child.

She says over time a culture developed within social service agencies where fathers were not part of the equation.

"We've taught fathers that they don't count, that they're the secondary plan for their children or that they can babysit if needed,” she states. “Well, they're not babysitters. They're parents, and so we've really tried to right the ship and get them to really understand that they're such a critical piece."

The agency developed its Father Factor initiative several years ago, and is creating awareness and educating workers, fathers and the community about the importance of engaging dads in their child's safety and permanency.

Ream adds that when a father is present, a child has better educational outcomes and is less likely to become involved in the criminal justice system.

Ream says parenting classes and educational opportunities can help absent dads become better parents.

She tells the story of a 58-year-old man who spent most of his life behind bars. When one of his children was placed up for adoption, he spent his last days in prison focusing on turning things around.

"He got a trade while he was incarcerated,” she relates. “His worker really gave him a lot of hope and empowered him to be the dad that the worker saw that he could be.

“Came to our classes, actively participated, helped the other gentlemen in the class as well, and received full legal custody of his son last summer."

With assistance of the Ohio Commission on Fatherhood, Ream says several agencies developed a best practice guide to help other social service agencies become more father-friendly.

"Fathers need to know that we believe in them,” she stresses. “There's always hope things can be done in a different way.

“There are resources in the state of Ohio. The work can be done. We just need to make sure our fathers can get connected and engaged for what their needs are."

June is Responsible Fatherhood Month, and the Ohio Commission on Fatherhood is sponsoring events to highlight the crucial role of fathers and to celebrate responsible fatherhood.





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Virginia's General Assembly is taking up a bill to address outcomes for kids in foster care.

Previous legislation either failed to pass or was watered down in favor of further research on the issues. House Bill 893 would require Virginia's Judicial Council to adopt new standards for attorneys to qualify to represent parents in child dependency cases.

Valerie L'Herrou, deputy director of the Center for Family Advocacy at the Virginia Poverty Law Center, described the impact it can have on families.

"When parents have better legal representation, the children achieve their permanency goal faster," L'Herrou pointed out. "On average, four months faster."

She pointed out the faster turnaround can reduce state foster care operation costs. Typically, Virginia spends $305 million annually on foster care. Most opposition to previous bills has subsided, in light of state research about the extent of the issue. The bill passed the House of Delegates and has been referred to the Senate Committee for Courts of Justice.

With more than 5,000 children in foster care, L'Herrou argued now is the time to act. She added if this bill passes, it could serve as a springboard for future improvements to the system.

"I think this will start giving judges information that they need in order to effectively decide cases," L'Herrou emphasized. "When a case goes to court, you're hearing from both sides, and if you only hear from one side, then you're getting an incomplete picture."

The bill would also raise the rate of compensation for attorneys taking such cases. In the meantime, L'Herrou stressed programs are providing parents with sufficient legal representation. The Family Preservation Project has been filling the gap by taking what she calls a "holistic approach" to family separation cases.

During February, which is National Parent Leadership Month, the nonprofit Parents Anonymous is celebrating the successful launch of the new National Parent and Youth Helpline.

The Helpline has received more than 19,000 calls in its first few months. On Saturday, the group cut the ribbon on its new headquarters in Pasadena.

Rep. Judy Chu, D-Calif., spoke at the event, saying National Parent Leadership Month is the perfect time to reassure families they are not alone.

"It is a time for them to learn that there are resources available," Chu noted. "You can change your life around and feel better yourself, but also help your children live better lives."

Parents Anonymous created National Parent Leadership Month 30 years ago. The nation's 174 million parents and young people who need emotional support can call or text 855-427-2736 or live-chat 24/7 on the website.

Antonia Rios, chair of the national and California parent leadership teams for Parents Anonymous and a mother of seven, said she overcame decades of trauma with the help of counselors at Parents Anonymous.

"Parents Anonymous has provided me the emotional support so that I felt safe to open up," Rios explained. "I didn't feel judged, or revictimized. I felt like I could talk about what it was like for me, and then move past it."

The federal Administration for Children and Families recently awarded Parents Anonymous a five-year, $10 million grant to launch and operate the National Parent and Youth Helpline.

Wisconsin is among the states without a defined formula for deciding alimony payments through divorce court proceedings.

A new report says without that predictability, some people might not be getting a fair shake.

Custody X Change, an online firm that helps families navigate divorce, is out with a new analysis of alimony laws across the country.

The company's Managing Editor Shea Drefs said only about a third of states have a formula on the books.

The remaining states, including Wisconsin, essentially give judges discretion to sign off on an amount without a guideline.

Settlement agreements often take shape beforehand, but Drefs said that's not always the case.

"If you can't reach an agreement, because many people who are divorcing aren't on super great terms," said Drefs, "and they go to a judge and they say, 'Okay, you decide what should the alimony amount be.' If that's you going in, you have no idea what to expect."

Drefs said this can be especially problematic for those who can't afford an attorney to guide them through negotiations.

The report also notes that of the states that do have a formula, only 10 have guidelines for how long payments should continue.

The authors recommend implementing policies in states where there are none, and for ongoing assessments of existing formulas.

Drefs said in cases where someone isn't able to secure fair terms, whether that's the person receiving the payments or the other half responsible for them, it can have a lasting effect.

"Having bad alimony arrangements can have an impact on each of the ex-spouses," said Drefs, "on their children - and it can have ripple effects."

That might include housing instability or other forms of financial hardships.

Drefs said while existing guidelines can help a judge make a decision, there's still flexibility to consider traditional factors, such as income levels for both spouses, their ages, and the length of the marriage.




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