February 27, 2004

Decatur, AL –  Calhoun Community College today announced the formal kick-off of the Alabama Fatherhood Initiative (AFI) of Morgan County, a program designed to provide short-term employment and skills training services to assist underemployed and unemployed non-custodial fathers who have fallen significantly behind on their child support payments.

The courts are taking a much tougher stand in dealing with non-custodial parents who have fallen behind or fail to make mandated child support payments.  However, in some cases, these parents have real obstacles in making support payments, and the courts have recognized this.  In an effort to aide these individuals, Calhoun has partnered with the Morgan County Department of Human Resources, the Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services, Decatur Youth Services, Decatur CareerLink, PACT (Parents and Children Together) and Morgan County District Judges David Breland and David Bibb to provide this program.

Calhoun is one of nine community colleges in the state selected to pilot the Alabama Fatherhood Initiative program. Specifically, the program provides employment opportunities to under- and unemployed non-custodial parents through increased educational and short-term skills training opportunities, adult education classes, and pre-employment skills to get these individuals into the workforce sooner.  In addition, it provides realistic alternatives to incarceration for non-custodial parents who want to work and meet their financial responsibilities to their children and training completion certification and assistance in obtaining viable employment opportunities.

Calhoun’s job training will begin by offering the participants skills in the following courses:  Commercial Drivers’ License (CDL), welding, health care programs (Phlebotomy Technician, Pharmacy Technician, Medical Billings Records Clerk, Certified Nursing Assistant), and computer application classes.  The students will have up to 12 weeks to complete the program (depending on work schedules)

The program facilitates a five-step process which will start in the court system when the Case Manager for the AFI of Morgan County meets with the participants to interview them after they have been court ordered to the AFI for employment assistance and skills training.  The Case Manager will assist the participant to secure skills training funds through CareerLink and to enroll in an appropriate skills training program designed to optimize the participant’s best chance of employment. 

During today’s announcement, Angela Henderson was introduced as the program’s Interim Case Manager.  A graduate of Athens State University with a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Criminal Justice, Ms. Henderson most recently worked as a program manager with PACT.  She officially begins her duties on March 1.

Funding for tuition for program participants is being provided through Welfare-to-Work and the Workforce Investment Act.

Coverage of this release:

• Calhoun Announces New Alabama Fatherhood Initiatives Program, ChamberWire, a publication of the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of Commerce, March 2004
• New program helps fathers support children, The Decatur Daily, Sunday morning, February 29, 2004 issue, p. B4
• WHNT-TV Channel 19, Huntsville, AL, Saturday, February 28, 2004, 6:00 & 7:00 a.m. newscasts.
• WEUP Radio, Huntsville, AL, Friday, February 27, 2004, 4:00 & 5:00 p.m.
• Helping parents pay support, The Huntsville Times, Saturday, February 28, 2004 issue, p. B1
• WHNT-TV Channel 19, Huntsville, AL, Friday, February 27, 2004, noon, 6:00 & 10:00 p.m. newscasts.

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