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Date: Friday, Oct. 3, 1997 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: ACF Press Office (202) 401-9215
"Fathers and mothers are both important to a child's healthy development," said Secretary Shalala. "These grants are designed to encourage non-custodial parents' positive involvement in the lives of their children in cases where it is appropriate.
"We also expect that more access and visitation will encourage more child support payments by non-custodial parents," added Secretary Shalala.
The funds for the new grant program are available because of the new welfare reform law signed by President Clinton last year. States have flexibility in how they design and operate the access and visitation projects. Activities include, but are not limited to, mediation, counseling, education, development of parenting plans, visitation enforcement, and development of guidelines for visitation and alternative custody arrangements. There is a minimum allotment amount of $50,000 per state for fiscal year 1997.
"Involvement of both parents is essential to the well-being of our nation's children," said David Gray Ross, deputy director, Office of Child Support Enforcement. "These grants will encourage the safe and supportive contact of parents with their children."
The grants may be used to create or enhance state-run programs, or to fund grants or contracts with courts, local public agencies, or gateway.html private entities. Programs do not have to operate statewide. Designated state agencies include Governors' offices, offices of the Attorneys General, social service agencies, child support offices and courts.
The child support enforcement program is a top priority of the Clinton administration. The federal/state child support program has seen record improvements from 1992 to 1996, including a 50 percent increase in child support collections from $8 billion to $12 billion, and nearly double the number of paternity establishments from 516,000 to 1 million. The new welfare law included the toughest child support enforcement measures ever enacted to streamline paternity establishment, centralize statewide collections and disbursements, make uniform interstate collection laws, revoke or suspend licenses and require new hire reporting.