Harvest Life Fatherhood Initiative.  An unintended effect of aggressive enforcement of child support on some low-income obligors is the accumulation of significant debt.  The Office of the Attorney General has recognized a need to consider alternative approaches that balance strong enforcement tools with services for the reentrant population to meet long-term goals of reliable support and stronger family ties.

Harvest Life seeks to provide assistance to non-custodial fathers in becoming better fathers and in understanding their responsibility for financially supporting their children.  Fathers who pay regular child support are more involved with their children, providing them with emotional as well as financial support.  Reliable child support has a positive effect on children’s achievement in school, and appears to have a greater impact on children dollar for dollar than other types of income. 

However close examination of child support in low-income families reveals that many obligors are noncustodial fathers with marginal education and job skills, but who have child support obligations that far exceed their ability to meet.  Studies indicate that children are more likely to receive continuous, on-going child support when the child support order is reasonable and comports with real income.  The inability to meet child support obligations, coupled with limited employment options and minimal or nonexistent employment and relationship skills may cause some parents to participate in illicit activity that could subsequently lead to recidivism.

Harvest Life Fatherhood Initiative – In phase one, HLF’s legal staff and volunteer lawyers will provide legal representation to non-custodial fathers at court ordered child support enforcement proceedings.  We will work with the Attorney General’s Office to structure payment plans and reach alternatives that allow low-income fathers to meet their child support obligations. 

Harvest Life is focused on creating a culture of compliance by customizing the approaches to child support payments and distinguishing between those who refuse to pay and those who cannot pay.

Call TODAY for more information – 713 - 921-7771