ALABAMA BOTH PARENTS PROJECT
(ACCESS\VISITATION GRANT)
Subgrantee Project Update
(Update as of September 1999)
Lowndes County Education and Mediation Program: The Lowndes County program just successfully completed the third set of two-week classes. The program is designed to teach never married parents, referred by the court generally from the paternity dockets, the importance of having both parents in their children's lives. The program also teaches communication skills, the roles and responsibilities as parents, and role modeling.
Participants are encouraged to cooperatively develop a "parenting plan," which allows the parents to decide times for visitation and who will make major decisions about health care, education, and religious matters. After having conducted participation classes the first session and the first half of the second session, the staff meets with the parents to develop the "parenting plan," which will be incorporated into a court order and enforced.
If only one parent attends the second session, the '4parenting plan" of the one who attended will be taken, incorporated by a judge's order, and treated like a default judgment. Contempt proceedings may also be commenced against the absent party. To date, approximately 11 couples have completed the education phase of the program, resulting in eleven mutually agreed upon parenting plans. Only once has a case required mediation because of failure to compromise.
Judge Terri Bozeman has displayed prudent leadership and a genuine concern for the people she serves. Indicative of this is the fact that she willingly comes out on Sundays to deliver introductory remarks before each class. Program Coordinator Mary Williams of Rainbow Counseling, Inc., is a skilled professional, who has been very methodical and thorough in the installation of the overall program.
Geneva County Pro Se and Mediation Program: This program allows parents who wish to obtain a divorce and cannot afford the services of an attorney to apply for mediation of custody and visitation issues. If the parties agree on these issues in the mediation, local attorneys provide administrative services by drafting the required court documents. After a divorce complaint, along with the mediation agreement, is filed in the clerk's office, the judge may enter an order incorporating the terms of the mediation agreement. Approximately 24 couples have utilized the program since its inception earlier this year. Judge Charles Fleming and Program Coordinator Erskine Crews reported that mediation sessions are so well administered by Mrs. Kaye Barbaree, that on occasions, couples have decided to reconcile. Of the twenty-four cases referred to mediation, they have experienced difficulties in only three. The difficulties experienced were because of geographic separation (two of the fathers were in prison and one lives in Wisconsin). Mrs. Donna Jones manages the grant funds (County Administrator). She has been very cooperative. Judge Fleming's commitment ensures the success of the Both Parents program.
Jefferson County Both Parents Education Program: With an abundance of resources, highly qualified personnel, ideally-suited facilities, an extensive curriculum, and solid leadership, the Jefferson County Family Court Both Parents Program assist parents in paternity cases (never married) to develop the skills needed to co-parent their children. Thus far, they have served twenty-five never-married participants. Judge Sandra Storm has empowered Program Coordinator Janis Sorrell and Mental Health Liaison Jason Springfield with vision necessary to put together a first-class program. They have developed a comprehensive seven-week parenting education class that not only is designed for parents, but also a built-in children's curriculum. Parents are strongly encouraged to bring their children to the family court with them. while the parents are in class, the children receive instruction in groups: birth - 3 years, 4-8, 9-12, and 13 - 15. After the children have been separated by ages, a specially trained counselor incorporates play time with an education curriculum designed to help the children cope with separated parents. So far, twenty-five parents have successfully completed the classes.
Madison County Supervised Visitation and Pro Se Legal Services: This program entails the use of a supervised visitation site at the Family Services Center for noncustodial parents who have been referred by either the juvenile or domestic relations court. Great expectations surround the future of the supervised visitation site in Madison County. The Huntsville Times contained a cover story in the "Life & Family Section" about the Both Parents Program and published Pam Berry. In addition, Family Services Center President/CEO, Debra Traughber, along with Ms. Berry, held a grand opening of the facilities Friday, August 13, 1999. This event was very well received by the community. The Visitation Center was designed to lessen worries (in cases of domestic violence) by providing a safe, neutral site for noncustodial parents to visit their children. Judge Moquin anticipates a steady usage of the facilities. Legal Services of North-Central Alabama, Inc. has provided legal assistance (via development of pleading packets) for noncustodial parents seeking visitation rights in cases. Ms. Stacey Haire of Legal Services informed us that they are in the process of developing an informational brochure describing the procedures involved and the standards applied during custody, visitation, and support cases in both juvenile and circuit courts; developing forms for pro se litigants to use to enter requests for custody, visitation, modification of child support, or contempt of court relating to visitation issues. Legal Services of North-Central Alabama, Inc. is planning to hold some periodic workshops after hours to answer questions and assist litigants in filling out forms.
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