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Date: Thursday, December 18, 1997
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Michael Kharfen (202) 401-9215

HHS Secretary Donna E. Shalala announced approval of a child support waiver for the Tacoma, Washington Enterprise Community. This is the first child support waiver for an Enterprise Community. The project, "Devoted Dads," is an innovative public/private partnership to promote the responsible roles of fathers in the financial and emotional support of their children.

"Devoted Dads is a very exciting and important model for the nation to help fathers contribute to the healthy growth of their children," said Secretary Shalala. "The project also aims to ensure that fathers provide child support to their children as families move from welfare to self-sufficiency."

The project intends to reach non-custodial parents, particularly young and at-risk fathers. The goal is to determine whether the mix of public education and targeted services help young fathers achieve self-sufficiency and become active parents.

Key activities of the project include a public education campaign about child support obligations; a self-help and mediation program to resolve conflicts in meeting child support payments; peer education by young unwed fathers on paternity, child support and teen parenting to reach young people in high schools and community centers; and, comprehensive family services of parenting education and counseling.

"Devoted Dads is a special project because the community has rallied to bridge the gap between fathers and their children," said Olivia A. Golden, assistant secretary for children and families. "The federal government is working the right way to give communities the flexibility they need while achieving results by fathers assuming their responsibility to their children."

Tacoma is one of the 105 Empowerment Zones and Enterprise Communities established by the federal government to enhance community development by providing funding, tax incentives and technical support. The federal government also encouraged the communities to seek waivers that would cut through federal red tape.

The waiver allows the State of Washington to use federal funds normally used only for child support enforcement activities to support the project. The project will operate for 4 years and include a rigorous evaluation.