Parents' Fair Share
An Effective Practice
Description
The Parents' Fair Share (PFS) demonstration program, implemented from 1994 through 1996 (with an initial pilot phase from 1992 to 1994), was a national demonstration project authorized by the Family Support Act of 1988. The PFS program was designed as an alternative to standard child support enforcement. The program offered services in four areas: employment and training, modified child-support enforcement, peer support, and voluntary mediation services with the custodial parent.
Goal / Mission
The goals of the program included helping unemployed, noncustodial parents (primarily fathers) to secure employment, pay child support, and participate more fully and responsibly as parents.
Results / Accomplishments
Noncustodial parents in the PFS program, who were almost exclusively fathers, were significantly more likely to pay child support than were noncustodial parents in the control group. Additionally, the PFS program had no significant effects on employment rates and earnings for the full sample of noncustodial fathers, although it did increase earnings for the least employable men.
About this Promising Practice
Organization(s)
Manpower Demonstration Research Corporation
Primary Contact
Cynthia Miller
Manpower Demonstration Research Corporation
16 East 34th Street
New York, NY 10016
(212) 532-3200
cynthia.miller@mdrc.org
Manpower Demonstration Research Corporation
16 East 34th Street
New York, NY 10016
(212) 532-3200
cynthia.miller@mdrc.org
Topics
Community / Social Environment
Economy / Employment
Economy / Employment
Organization(s)
Manpower Demonstration Research Corporation
Source
Promising Practices Network
Date of publication
Jan 2007
For more details
Target Audience
Families