ISU Trainers

Hitting the road for paternity affidavits

by Jeremy Schweitzer

Mike Dobbs spends more time on the road than any previous trainer due to his role in the Paternity Affidavit Education Program. His journey includes every Child Support Recovery Unit (CSRU) field office statewide and nearly every hospital in Iowa.

This multi-stage project is designed to increase the percentage of successfully filed paternity affidavits by unwed parents. A paternity affidavit is a legal document that allows two unwed parents to voluntarily agree to list the male as the legal father. Hospitals are required to provide information about paternity affidavits for unwed parents, however, in his visits with hospital staff, Dobbs discovered that even parents who want to file a paternity affidavit often lack the documentation required by the Iowa Bureau of Vital Records. This was confirmed by feedback from CSRU field staff when Dobbs delivered training to help field staff answer clients’ questions about paternity affidavits.

Working with CSRU policy staff and the Bureau of Vital Records, Dobbs developed a modified version of the training and began traveling to WIC clinics, public health facilities, and other likely points of contact for unwed parents during the pregnancy. By providing critical information prior to the birth, unwed parents are better prepared when arriving at the hospital. Previous studies show that minimizing the time between birth and establishment of paternity increases the odds that paternity will be established. This ensures that each child has two parents who are legally responsible for his or her care.

Dobbs delivers training to clinic staff and provides materials to share with clients, including brochures and videos in both English and Spanish. Nancy Anderson of Operation Threshold said, “[The DVD] was very informative. My staff agreed that we should show the VCR version in our lobby at Operation Threshold.”

Paternity Affidavit Education is an on-going program. Dobbs plans to follow up with hospitals he visited last year and to continue providing training to more clinics. A new fatherhood initiative is currently entering the planning stages and may further expand the scope and impact of this program.

The new initiative may mean more time on the road, but Dobbs is ready for the challenge. “These clinics are serving their communities and when I leave a site, it feels good to know that this type of program does make a difference to people.”

If you think your staff or clients may benefit from this program please contact the ISU Trainers at isutrainers@dhs.state.ia.us.  

News & Events

The summer leadership conference is June 14-15.

Mike Dobbs is reaching out to clinics and hospitals around the state.

Julie Jeffries joins the ISU Trainers