Policy & Practice | Spring 2025

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By Meshia Henderson

Integrated Services for Stronger Families and Thriving Communities

S tate and local governments play a critical role in helping to shape the future of their communities. In particular, a wide range of human services programs at state and local levels are vital to ensuring the well being of children—the embodiment of any community’s future. These programs include child support, finan cial support like Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), and food assistance like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The impact of each program is felt within families and across communi ties. However, their collective impact is strengthened when they integrate additional support designed to foster stable family relationships and economic security for both custodial and noncustodial parents of children. As state and local governments deter mine how best to address the needs of entire family units, they recognize the efficiencies of integrated services and the opportunities for blended funding. Some are integrating employment and training services to boost noncustodial parents’ earnings potential; others are focusing on fathers specifically. Providing Greater Support for Noncustodial Parents In late 2024, a new rule 1 expanded funding options for employment and training services for noncustodial parents. The rule allows the use of IV-D federal funds for job search assistance, job readiness training, job development, placement and retention services, skills assessments and training, work support, and

occupational training. Some child support agencies may use this ability to braid federal and state funds to imple ment new employment and training services or expand the reach of existing offerings for noncustodial parents. Addressing the Economic and Social Needs of Fathers The latest estimate from the U.S. Census Bureau found that mothers lead roughly 80 percent of one-parent families. 2 Research shows that children growing up without an actively present father are significantly more likely to experience poverty. It also indicates that higher levels of family instability often lead to increased rates of health and behavioral problems. 3 Financial instability can intensify children’s challenges, making it more difficult for them to thrive.

That’s why integrated economic empowerment and fatherhood programs serve as a pathway to help fathers achieve stability and success while contributing to their com munities. These programs include employment and training services to address unemployment and underem ployment, and services that address other key barriers fathers face, such as strained co-parenting relationships. Three Considerations for Economic Empowerment and Fatherhood Programs First, identify and address all the obstacles. Programs should address the specific challenges that fathers who are economically disadvantaged often face. Chronic unemployment or

See Integrated Services on page 28

Illustration by Chris Campbell

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Spring 2025 Policy & Practice