Noncustodial Parents : What's Next in Wisconsin? : Strengthening Families Through Work Opportunities.

This paper discusses the importance of father involvement in the lives of children, describes the increased focus on creating programs to promote father involvement, and highlights Wisconsin's noncustodial parent (NCP) policies and services as the State moves into the next phase of welfare reform. The first half of the paper describes the current landscape of NCP reform, including the barriers to meeting NCPs' needs effectively and the perspectives of those affected by the State's NCP policies. The second half of the paper presents challenges facing the State and opportunities for Wisconsin to build upon ten years of policy innovations in order to assume a national leadership role in welfare reform and workforce development policies that are focused on fatherhood and family. The paper is built upon the premise that enhancing work opportunities for NCPs is the most effective means of improving their children's emotional and financial well-being. Specifically, the paper addresses three themes to guide the next generation of work-related reforms: enhancing the economic prospects of low-income NCPs through expanded and improved employment and training services; broadening the scope of the child support program to promote services that provide for the emotional and financial well-being of children; and strengthening the formation of two-parent families. 47 references. (Author abstract modified)