Evaluation of child support policy that acts as a barrier to poverty alleviation for custodial and non-custodial families | Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy

Evaluation of child support policy that acts as a barrier to poverty alleviation for custodial and non-custodial families

September 2019 - December 2019

Summary

The students worked with YFSU to assess policies impacting custodial and noncustodial families in the child support system and develop a toolkit to be used with potential funders and policymakers.

Community partner

Young Fathers Standing United

Students

Mallak Anani (MPP ’21)
Caroline Logue (BA ’21)
Ethan Ramer (BA ‘20)

Project overview

Young Fathers Standing United (YFSU) is a city-wide 501c3 organization committed to breaking the generational cycle of fatherlessness that has plagued metro Detroit.  YFSU promotes family unity, family rights and traditional values of fatherhood.  Their programming is designed to educate, develop and support fathers to impact their children, families and communities.

The students worked with YFSU to assess policies impacting custodial and noncustodial families in the child support system and develop a toolkit to be used with potential funders and policymakers.  They engaged with a variety of stakeholders working with fathers and families including metro Detroit counties’ Friend of the Court administrators, State of Michigan departments, fatherhood practitioners and fathers in the court system.  The students’ work assessed research and data of federal, state and local child support policies juxtaposing them with the real-world experiences of families impacted by the laws.  The final deliverable was a toolkit for YFSU to use with potential funders and policymakers.