Community Forum on Fatherhood:

Can Government Programs Meet the Challenges of Low-Income Fathers?

The goal of this forum is to facilitate a dialogue about policies and programs designed to assist low-income non-custodial fathers and the programs’ barriers and underutilization. The forum will engage national, state, and local child support and Responsible Fatherhood program and policy officials in conversation with local non-custodial fathers. The event will also feature a service provider fair to offer non-custodial fathers assistance with employment, child support, legal issues, and other information.

SPEAKERS

Ronald Mincy, Ph.D., is a Professor at Columbia University School of Social Work and the Director of the Center for Research on Fathers, Children and Family Well-Being. Dr. Mincy has devoted over thirty years to research and policy aimed at discovering and promoting the needs of low-income families—with a particular focus on black fathers— at the local, state, national levels. He was born in the Bronx and lives in Harlem.

Dr. Calvin O. Butts, III is Pastor, The Abyssinian Baptist Church. Under Dr. Butts’ 37 year ministerial leadership, Abyssinian remains dedicated to executing the Christian mission to: spread the Gospel, feed the hungry, provide shelter for the homeless, clothe and give to those who are lost, an undying hope in Jesus Christ. The founder and current Chairman of Abyssinian Development Corporation, Reverend Butts is the visionary behind Harlem’s Thurgood Marshall Academies, as well as Board Chairman of national and local organizations committed to such vital issues as education, health, and homelessness.

Joyce Thomas, M.A. is Regional Administrator for the U.S. Department of HHS, Administration for Children and Families (Region II).  Ms. Thomas partners with state and local government, Tribes, and community-based organizations to provide leadership, coordination, and integration among programs designed to promote economic independence and healthy development of children, youth and families, which include ACF's Responsible Fatherhood and African American Healthy Marriage Initiatives.

Helen Mitchell, M.P.A., is Director of Strategic Planning and Policy Development for the Honorable Congressman Danny K. Davis of the 7th District of Illinois. As a senior leadership team member, Ms. Mitchell is charged with managing Representative Davis’s highest priority: problems effecting black men. This month, Representative Davis will introduce the Julia Carson Responsible Fatherhood and Healthy Families Act of 2009.

David Hansell, J.D., is Commissioner of the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA). OTDA is the state agency charged with oversight of support programs and economic assistance for low-income New Yorkers. Commissioner Hansell, a former chief of staff of NYC's HRA, chairs a number of state cabinets including the Governor’s Economic Security Cabinet, the Children’s Cabinet, and the Workforce Investment Board. 


PANELISTS

Scott Cade, J.D., is Deputy Commissioner for the OTDA Center for Child Well-Being where he serves as Director of the NYS Child Support Program and oversees the State's Strengthening Families Through Stronger Fathers Initiative. Mr. Cade, a licensed attorney in the State of New York, has been OTDA Deputy Commissioner and Director of Child Support since August 2005.

Frances Pardus-Abbadessa, M.P.A., is Deputy Commissioner of the NYC HRA Office of Child Support Enforcement (OCSE), which manages the NYC child support program. OCSE’s 840-person staff works to ensure that non-custodial parents share responsibility for supporting their children. They provide an array of services, including locating parents; paternity establishment; support collection; order modification and enforcement; and, in partnership with community-based organizations, training, education and job placement for non-custodial parents.
 
Thomas Quinones, J.D., is a Family Court Support Magistrate who has served in New York County for the past twelve years. The New York State Family Court was established to take action in the lives of children, parents and spouses. A graduate of CUNY Law School, Magistrate Quiñones has always aspired to its motto “Law in the Service of Human Needs.”

George is the proud father of a 13 year old son. He is enrolled in Seedco’s Fatherhood Initiative, a pilot program of New York State’s Fatherhood Initiative. He recently qualified for Seedco’s fatherhood loan to use towards past child support arrears. He has also received the New York State Non-Custodial Parent Earned Income Tax Credit. George is currently employed full time at his church, Crossroads Tabernacle.

Clive is the proud father of four children, a 12 year old son, an 11 year old son, as well as a 9 year old daughter and a 4 year old son with whom he lives. He is enrolled in St. Nick’s Fatherhood Program, a pilot program of New York State’s Strengthening Families through Stronger Fathers Initiative, and is a participant in NYC HRA’s Arrears Credit Program.

Moderator
Alicia Crowe, Esq., is a rising voice for responsible fatherhood. Ms. Crowe, a highly sought-after speaker and author of Real Dads Stand Up!TM:What Every Single Father Should Know about Child Support Rights and Custody, offers insights and solutions to help single dads gain greater understanding of their rights under the legal system. She is a partner in the law firm of Crowe & Crowe.

Sponsors:
The Abyssinian Baptist Church's Mens' Ministry
The Center for Research on Fathers, Children and Family Well-Being
The National Fatherhood Leaders Group
New York City Human Resources Administration Office of Child Support Enforcement
New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance

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About SSW (www.socialwork.columbia.edu)
For 110 years, the Columbia University School of Social Work has been a leader in the education of professionals for careers in practice, policy, and administration. Located in New York City, the School offers a master’s and a doctoral program which are nationally and internationally recognized for their excellence. With a signature curriculum that features multidisciplinary courses taught by leading scholars and practitioners and rich field education, CUSSW continues to be at the forefront of clinical and community practice, social policy, and social enterprise administration education, research and innovation in the 21st Century.