Georgia Fatherhood Program

Evidence Rating  
Evidence rating: Insufficient Evidence

Strategies with this rating have limited research documenting effects. These strategies need further research, often with stronger designs, to confirm effects.

Health Factors  
Retired Strategy

Retired strategies are no longer updated.

Date last updated

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 children1.

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 participants2, but this finding has not been replicated. Additional evidence is needed to confirm effects.

How could this strategy impact health disparities? This strategy is rated likely to decrease disparities.
Implementation Examples

In FY 2015 and 2016, about 6,000 non-custodial fathers were enrolled in the Georgia Fatherhood Program3, 4.

Implementation Resources

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

Footnotes

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

2 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.

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

4 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.