Parenting Time and Child Support: Information for Fatherhood Programs and Fathers

Fatherhood programs play an important role in helping fathers understand and address legal issues such as child support and supporting the fathers in building relationships with their children and coparent. While child support and visitation are separate legal issues, research shows the two are by nature connected and benefit each other. This brief offers service delivery suggestions for fatherhood programs including: providing coparenting skills training, partnering with other community organizations, learning about the procedures and processes for establishing paternity, helping parents understand parenting time and support are separate legal issues, training on domestic violence, engaging mothers as well as fathers, advocating for state funding for parenting plans, and collecting and sharing data with child support programs and courts.