Staging Website
This page is connected to a test database. Data is not necessarily up-to-date and could be wiped out at any time.
Evidence matters. Find policies, programs, and systems changes that are a good fit for your community priorities.

Georgia Fatherhood Program

Evidence Rating
Strategies with this rating have limited research documenting effects. These strategies need further research, often with stronger designs, to confirm effects.
Disparity Rating
Likely to decrease disparities
Community Conditions
Safety and social support
Authors
Lead: Bomi Kim Hirsch
Contributor(s): Alison Bergum, Lael Grigg
Acknowledgements: Komal Dasani
Date Last Updated
September 7, 2017

The Georgia Fatherhood Program provides employment-based services for non-custodial fathers who are unable to pay court-ordered child support after a job loss or a substantial decrease in income. Services include GED enrollment, job training and placement, driver’s license reinstatement, and parental support encouraging emotional and financial involvement in the lives of their children (GFP).

What could this strategy improve?

Expected Benefits

Our evidence rating is based on the likelihood of achieving these outcomes:

  • Improved economic security

What does the research say about effectiveness? -+

There is insufficient evidence to determine whether the Georgia Fatherhood Program improves the economic well-being of children of non-custodial fathers. Available evidence suggests that the program may increase employment among previously unemployed program participants (Bloomer 2003), but this finding has not been replicated. Additional evidence is needed to confirm effects.

Implementation Examples -+

In FY 2015 and 2016, about 6,000 non-custodial fathers were enrolled in the Georgia Fatherhood Program (GA DHS-Fatherhood, Telegraph-Womack 2017).

Implementation Resources -+

GFP - Georgia Department of Human Services (GA DHS). Fatherhood program (GFP).

Citations -+

* Journal subscription may be required for access.

Bloomer 2003* - Bloomer SR, Sipe TA. The impact of the Georgia fatherhood program on employment and wages. Journal of Social Service Research. 2003;29(4):53-65.

GA DHS-Fatherhood - Georgia Department of Human Services (GA DHS), Division of Child Support Services. Fatherhood program.

GFP - Georgia Department of Human Services (GA DHS). Fatherhood program (GFP).

Telegraph-Womack 2017 - Womack AL. Are you a dad who needs a job? Family fun and job info offered at fatherhood celebration. The Telegraph. April 20, 2017.