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1992.05.28 :  Fair Share Demonstration Sites

Contact:  Larry Dye (202) 401-9215
May 28, 1992

       HHS Secretary Louis W. Sullivan, M.D., today announced
selection of the initial seven sites to participate in the Parents'
Fair Share Demonstration, an initiative designed to help unemployed
and underemployed noncustodial parents meet their child support
obligations.  
       The sites are in Florida, Massachusetts, Michigan,
Minnesota, Ohio, New Jersey and Tennessee.   
       "Parents' Fair Share will strive to address the problems of
noncustodial parents who are unemployed yet want to provide
financial support for their children," said Sullivan.  "The program
will make available a wide range of employment, training and
support services to individuals. I look forward to seeing the
results of our continued efforts to strengthen vulnerable
families." 
       Parents' Fair Share will be operated in conjunction with
several other programs, including Aid to Families with Dependent
Children (AFDC), Job Opportunities and Basic Skills Training (JOBS)
and child support enforcement.
       "Parents' Fair Share is based upon the philosophy underlying
the landmark 1988 Family Support Act...that parents -- both mothers
and fathers -- are expected to provide the primary support for
their children, and that government should provide services to
assist the parents when necessary to become self-sufficient," said
Jo Anne B. Barnhart, assistant secretary for children and families. 
"Parents' Fair Share will offer new services to noncustodial
parents so that they can contribute financially and emotionally to
their children's lives." 
       Authority for the Parents' Fair Share Demonstration was
included within the 1988 Family Support Act.  The initiative will
consist of a pilot phase lasting 18 to 24 months during which the
progress of the sites will be closely monitored.  If the sites
perform well, the second phase of the demonstration will include
full-scale evaluations.  
       "A unique and very significant aspect of Parents' Fair
Share," said Barnhart, "is that it is jointly funded by a
public/private consortium including the Pew Charitable Trusts, the
Ford Foundation, the AT&T Foundation, HHS and the Department of
Labor.  The Manpower Demonstration Research Corporation is
responsible for development of the demonstration and evaluation of
the project."
     The seven counties selected for participation in the program
are:  
          LOCATION:                     Total Projected Budget:
          o  Duval County, Florida                     $1,021,000
          o  Hampden County, Massachusetts             $  910,000
          o  Kent County, Michigan                     $2,390,000
          o  Montgomery and Butler Counties, Ohio      $2,345,000
          o  Anoka and Dakota Counties, Minnesota      $1,311,000
          o  Mercer County, New Jersey                 $1,260,000
          o  Shelby County, Tennessee                  $1,532,000
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