13 th annual national fatherhood & families conference restore the legacy of fathers – los...

13th Annual National Fatherhood & Families Conference “Restore the Legacy of Fathers” – Los Angeles, CA 2012

Fathers’ Support Center, St. Louis (FSC)Legal Clinic

“PROVIDING QUALITY & AFFORDABLE LEGAL SERVICES”

Presented February 22, 2012

bybyHalbert Sullivan, CEO Halbert Sullivan, CEO

Chester Deanes, Director of Community Outreach Chester Deanes, Director of Community Outreach


Our MissionOur MissionTo foster healthy relationships by strengthening families

and communities

Our Vision Our Vision

Every father is a responsible father who is committed to a cohesive family relationship.


•The Family Formation Program

•The Employment Development and Mentoring Program

•Youth Leadership and Development Program

•Fathers’ Rap: A Self-Help Fatherhood Support Program •Male Wellness and Health

•The Legal Clinic

FSC ProgramsFSC Programs


Who We Serve

FSCs’ typical clients are:

African-American Males

Ages 17-54

Unemployed/ Underemployed

Non-custodial Fathers with Limited Interaction with Children

Men who want to be responsible fathers


Children from fatherless homes are:

8 times more likely to go to prison. 5 times more likely to commit suicide. 20 times more likely to have behavioral problems. 32 times more likely to run away. 10 times more likely to abuse chemical substances. 9 times more likely to drop out of high school. 33 times more likely to be seriously abused. 73 times more likely to be fatally abused. One-tenth as likely to get A's in school. On average have a 44% higher mortality rate. On average have a 72% lower standard of living


The Legal Clinic

The FSC Legal Clinic offers affordable legal assistance through the services of 2 attorney, social worker and law students thus making visitation attainable. Our work is to put the father back in the picture. The Fathers’ Support Centers’ Legal Clinic works to challenge the consequences of fatherless families and improve the lives of our community’s children.


Services Offered

Legal Visitation

Child Support Modifications

Expungements

Legal Custody**Only in cases where children are in jeopardy of becoming wards of the state.


Market Overview

Analysis revealed no legal clinics reserved for the poor that focus on issues of noncustodial, non-resident parents’ visitation and child custody

Pre-paid Legal – Does not handle family law matters

Family Law Attorneys and Firms- Too expensive

FSC Consumer Reports: 75% report negative experiences with our competitors (law clinics, family law firms and family law attorneys).


Market Overview

Market Segmentation

Consumers based on Legal Issues


Operations and Logistics


Legal Clinic Structure


Goals- Short-term Operating Goals

Develop a Business Plan and a Strategic PlanDevelop a Procedural ManualMeet with select area Judges and Prosecutors and introduce the Law ClinicHire Family Law Attorney and recruit two 3rd year law students. Develop Payment Plans Provide legal services to 165 customers


Goals- Intermediate Operating GoalsReview and update Business Plan and Strategic PlanMaintain relationships with area Law Schools Review and update Procedural ManualReview and update Payment PlansReview and update assessment toolsDevelop a meeting plan with those select Judges/ProsecutorsDevelop plan to expand the services offered at the Legal Clinic


Goals- Long-term Operating Goals

To become the premier Legal Clinic in the State that provides services to our populationSuccessful Branding of the Legal Clinic to make FSCs’ Legal Clinic the go-to placeDevelop additional Law Clinics in the StateDevelop an Internship program with area Law Schools for the purpose of recruiting and maintaining Law students and supporting their education goalsContinued advocacy for policies that recognize the parenting rights of the never-married non-custodial parent


Measuring Social Value

Measurements of Social Impact:Number of non-custodial (clients) paying child-support

Number of non-custodial (clients) that remain in the child’s life

Number of non-custodial parents referred to program by previous clients


Measuring Social Value cont

Number of fathers receiving legal visitation

Number of fathers receiving child support modifications

Number of fathers receiving custody (only when children are at risk of being placed in state care )

Number of non-custodial parents participating in other FSC programs


Potential Risks

Major

Professional liability

Performance

Competitive response

New laws/ regulations on legal clinics

Minor Growing too quickly

Frequent turn-over

Competing internal priorities

Mission Creep

Losing focus

Spending financial resources single bottom line


Funding and Sustainability

Start-Up FundingBoard of Directors investment -$15,000SEIC Investment- $35,000

Sustainability Diverse revenue streamsFees for client servicesInvestment/ interest income Expand target market


Senate Bill 140CHILD SUPPORT COURTS

Courts can now refer defendants to •education, vocational/employment training• substance abuse treatment, or work programs.

Upon completion, the defendant may have the charges against him/her

•dismissed•reduced•or modified

Each participant must be a nonviolent person. Criminal non-support matters may be charged as a class A misdemeanors as opposed to class D felonies


Senate Bill 140 (cont’d)If placed on probation or parole, payment of current support and satisfaction of arrears may be required

Failure to pay may result in further sentencing

Nonviolent first and second–time offenders currently incarcerated may be considered for work release

Courts have the ability to structure payments based upon the defendants’ net income

Provides greater opportunity for sustainable employment, thereby impacting the financial and emotional support of the child

www.senate.mo.gov/09info/pdf-bill/tat/SB140.pdf

http://www.senate.mo.gov/09info/pdf-bill/tat/SB140.pdf


Senate Bill 141

Clear, definitive notification of possible paternity judgmentsFathers are given opportunity to challenge paternity judgments with genetic testingFathers have until December 31, 2011 to set aside paternity judgments entered before August 28, 2009

•For judgments entered after August 28, 2009 fathers have two years from the date of the judgment to challenge paternity


Senate Bill 141 (cont’d)

If the father is not the biological father, •the court may enter a judgment setting aside previous judgment of paternity, •extinguish current and past support • modify the child’s birth certificate

Fathers may also apply for orders to expunge any criminal nonsupport charge or convictionFathers have no cause of action under SB 141 to sue the State of Missouri for any child support that was previously paid


This act allows:

•Child support to be terminated if the state registry indicates that the child is 21 years old and the support order does not require further payment•Automated the termination of the child support order when support is •The act also allows for a hearing regarding a child's emancipation when it is disputed by the parties, rather than treating the dispute as a motion to modify the support obligation. •This act requires the family support division to advise the obligor of the procedures to contest a lien placed, by the family support division, on workers' compensation benefits on the grounds that such lien is a mistake of fact. •If prima facie evidence is established, the obligor may only assert mistake of fact as a defense. The obligor shall have the burden of proof on such issues.

Missouri House Bill 1694


Fathers’ Support Center, St. Louis4411 N. Newstead Ave.

St. Louis, MO 63115(314) 333-4170

www.fatherssupportcenter.org

13 th annual national fatherhood & families conference restore the legacy of fathers – los...

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