Hispanic Fathers and the Child Support Enforcement Experience

ABSTRACT

Descriptive data as well as representative comments from Hispanic non-custodial fathers involved in child support enforcement are presented to document the Hispanic parent experience. The data indicate that the primary concern of fathers is ability to pay The data appear to reflect the economic and employment experience of Hispanic fathers who earn very little and most of whom are supporting another family of the fathers in the survey earning $10,000 or less a year (17%), 75% were Hispanics. Issues of the visitation experience do not appear to be a major concern for Hispanic fathers, except for denied access. Three recommendations are proposed for policy study and social service programs. These recommendations are seen as ways to increase compliance of non-custodial Hispanic parents. Two recommendations redress the financial aspects of the program and the third recommendation proposes that social service agents facilitate Hispanic non-custodial father support groups.