BMCW Fatherhood Initiative Resources

Learn More about Dads and CPS

Press Release: Grant to Assist in Engaging Fathers

Healthy Relationships Vow to Succeed provides classes for singles, couples, dads. Free. Check web site for schedule.

What About Dads? Child Welfare Agency Efforts to Identify an Locate Fathers. Published by the US Dept. of Health and Hunan Services

More about the Dads: Exploring Associations between Nonresident Father Involvement and Child Welfare Case Outcomes. Published by the US Dept. of Health and Hunan Services

Father's Involvement in Permanency Planning  Literature Review

Getting non-custodial dads involved in the lives of foster children. Urban Institute

Fatherhood Organizations - list compiled by Child Welfare Information Gateway

Milwaukee Fatherhood Initiative

Questions/Answers About Working with Fathers

Q.  A minor is identified as the father of a child.  How does the minor go about getting adjudicated; is it the same process as for an adult?

A. A minor would commence a paternity action in the same way as an adult.  Either the mother or the alleged father starts with a paternity interview. The public defenders’ office is able to conduct the interview and compose the affidavit to commence paternity action.  The only difference with minors is that a GAL (guardian ad litem) is appointed in Family Court for them. Per State Statute, minors cannot file Voluntary Paternity Acknowledgments.

Q.  Can the mother of the baby go to family court to get child support from the minor father?  Are his parents responsible?

A.  Yes. However, it is very unlikely that child support will be ordered if the minor father has no income/employment. The paternal grandparents are not responsible.

Q.  Does going through the family court process guarantee a father rights to visitation, placement etc. or can the judge find conditions and limit visitation and placement but still order the father to pay child support?

A. No. A judge or commissioner can order a father to pay child support and make whatever orders he/she deems appropriate regarding custody and placement. For example, the commissioner could order the father to pay $125 per month, $22 per month repayment toward birth expenses, joint custody, primary placement with mother, and a specific visitation schedule. Judges have been known to order child support from the father and hold open custody and placement concerning the father. This doesn’t occur often.

Q.  How do immigrant fathers go about the process; does it matter if they are or are not US citizens?

A.  Immigrant fathers may use the same paternity adjudication process. It helps a great deal if they have a tax identification number for identification purposes. The lack of a Social Security number is sometimes a problem, so the tax id number helps.