 | The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
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| The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
Syreeta Skelton, MPA, BA and Theresa Ann Sipe, PhD. College of Health and Human Sciences, Georgia State University, 33 Gilmer Street Unit 2, MSC 2A0875, Atlanta, GA 30303-3082, 404-651-2622, snskelton@gsu.edu
Outcome evaluation results indicate that Georgia’s statewide fatherhood program, a work initiative serving unemployed/underemployed noncustodial parents, falls short of addressing the needs of participants. Since 1998, Georgia’s statewide fatherhood program has received over 3,000 referrals per year and overwhelmingly, participants lack access to healthcare and medical coverage. Upon entry, only 13% of participants have medical insurance and only 7% have dental insurance. Although the program goal is to provide fathers employment opportunities to accomplish child support payments, evaluation and research has found that barriers such as lack of healthcare and criminal history prevent participants from obtaining and maintaining adequate employment. In this presentation, the process of developing a community collaborative for non-custodial parents with multi-barriers, focused around 9 areas of service provision (Basic Needs, Child Support, Educational Needs, Employment Services, Family Relations, Mental and Physical Health, Criminal Justice, Policy and Planning) will be described. The purpose of the collaborative is to move from a work initiative based on an education model to a holistic community-based family oriented approach to the financial and emotional support of children by combining work initiatives with health and other services. In light of Healthy People 2010 goals and low rates of healthcare access for non-custodial parents, such a collaborative offers promise to deliver medical care and coverage to previously underserved populations, while simultaneously achieving employment goals. Informing community health planners and policy developers about the potential of fatherhood programs to accomplish the goal of employment and healthcare simultaneously, can be cost effective and efficient.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Community Collaboration, Male Health
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Georgia Fatherhood Services Network & Georgia State University
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: employment