Bridgton, Maine 04009
July 9, 2000

Allison Giles, Chief of Staff
Committee on Ways and Means
U.S. House of Representatives
1102 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515

FATHERHOOD ISSUES IN THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY

Modern Tools for Modern Families.

Issues that must be consiered in the development of laws and policies that impact fathers and children of divorce should include the following:

1. Fathers are taking increasing role in parenting.

The most recent US Census Department data indicates that 22% of single-parent homes in the US are headed by fathers. That amount is 47% higher then the typical estimated amount used by policymakers in the US. Numerous studies, notable by Barnett and Rivers, indicate that (especially among younger fathers,) fathers are putting their parenting obligation ahead of career and any other interests.

In Maine single-parent households headed by fathers is a high 27%, which is estimated to be about twice the rate that fathers are assigned primary custody by courts, and estimated to be about 4 times more numerous then child support cases where men would be the recipients of child support.

Fathers’ actual role in parenting is probably twice to four times greater then that presently recognized by the courts or support collection agencies.

2. By considering the roles of most fathers of divorced children in the US to be that of a "non-custodial parent", US and state agencies use a term of convenience; rather then a term that describes an accurate role of many divorced fathers today.

"The structure of single-parent households has also been affected by the fact that more parents have shared legal custody for their children. This means that it is the right of both parents to be involved in important decisions, like health care, even when the children reside primarily with one parent. In addition, some parents are deciding to take primary physical responsibility for one or more of their shared children, and some states are no longer using the term ‘custody,’ but instead are allocating ‘parenting time’ between the mother and father." (The Medical Child Support Working Group Report, June 2000, page 1-4)

Even the reports being issued US Office of Child Support Enforcement, such as the report above, are recognizing that the term "non-custodial parent", is, in fact, obsolete in many situations.

3. Disenfranchisement of fathers from the policy process.

Few studies or panels that investigate divorce, parenting or child support include representatives of fathers or non-custodial parents. Fathers are under-represented, if at all, in the policy making process that affects both them, and their relationship with their children.

In most states there are no programs available specifically designed to assist divorced fathers.

In order to permit an air of legitimacy to the process of developing laws and policies that affect fathers of divorce, fathers will need to have their input considered, and adopted into the laws and policies.

I thank you in advance for your consideration of these issues.

Respectfully Submitted,

Tom Chandel

cc: Rep. Tom Allen
Sen. Olympia Snowe
Sen. Susan Collins