SKILLS TRAINING
Georgia Fatherhood Program (GFP)
The GFP provides education, training, and job placement for non-custodial parents with court-ordered child support. GFP offers a statewide systematic delivery of services that enables participants to contribute to the economic well being of their children and Georgia’s workforce development. GFP is a comprehensive program of services, which includes assessment, workshops, and skills training concurrent with employment.
The GFP seeks to serve all non-custodial parents who want to support their children, but lack the financial means to do so. Participants are required to attend Life Management Skills training and workshops. adult education, GED preparation, and short-term training (Technical Certificates of Credit) courses are also available from the technical college.
GFP has reduced the substantial costs experienced by state Child Support Services, the courts, and incarceration by preventing and resolving child support enforcement cases. Through participants' increased child support payments, the GFP has also reduced the burden placed on the public sector to provide financial assistance and other services to the program's participants and their families, including Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF), Medicaid, and food stamps.
GFP History:
GFP began in 1997 as a pilot program in seven technical colleges where 450 participants completed training and 80%, or 360 participants, were employed. In 1998, the program went statewide, and is now offered in 33 technical colleges and 3 university system colleges with technical divisions. It is cited by the U. S. Department of Education and the National Child Support Enforcement Association as the only statewide program of its kind.
Collaboration:
GFP is proud to be collaboration among the Department of Technical and Adult Education and the Department of Human Resources - Office of Child Support Services (CSS), State Board of Pardons and Paroles, the Department of Labor, and the Department of Corrections.
