The Allegan Friend of the Court’s Alternative Contempt Track (Allegan FOC ACT) program is designed to address the barriers some parents face which prevent them from being actively involved in their child(ren)’s lives and from financially supporting their child(ren).
These barriers may include:
- unemployment;
- criminal history which makes obtaining employment difficult;
- mental health issues;
- homelessness;
- lack of transportation;
- alcohol/drug abuse;
- lack of education.
Before the ACT program, many of our payers with frequent enforcement actions were continuously presenting the same reasons for lack of employment and a resulting lack of child support payments. In March 2015, the Alternative Contempt Track Docket section of the Support and Parenting Time Enforcement Act became effective (MCL 552.635a), which allowed for creation of a program like ours. We developed the ACT program in early 2016, and the first participant was admitted in April 2017.
To fund the specialized enforcement officer position which operates the program, we reallocated certain Allegan FOC office resources to the new position. Services of the program are funded through the individual service providers to whom we refer payers.
The program will be ongoing and available to qualified participants. I conduct interviews with payers appearing for a show cause hearing and those who have been arrested on an FOC bench warrant. I evaluate certain specific factors to determine eligibility, including: homelessness; illiteracy; unemployment more than 27 weeks (over six months); alcohol abuse; drug abuse; mental health issues; and medical issues. Payers only need to meet one of those factors to qualify for ACT, but they must also agree to be in the program, as it is voluntary. They are committing themselves to 12-month probation and intense supervision. If the payer agrees, we place him or her on the record in front of the judge overseeing this specialty court for confirmation of admission.
There are individuals who truly want to improve their current circumstances in life and just need help and guidance in taking those first steps. Many child support payers are unable or unaware of where to start and whom to call for services to address whatever barriers they encounter. The ACT program participants are involved in various services, which may include counseling, job readiness programs, and rehabilitation programs for drug or alcohol abuse issues. The ACT program also helps some participants with the reinstatement of a driver’s license by determination of the Secretary of State Office.
I started enforcement work in 1997 and have struggled with "frequent flyers" – those individuals who often need enforcement action taken and, once contacted, give the same reasons for noncompliance with their child support obligations. The ACT program provides payers frequent contact and support on a more intensive basis than regular enforcement allows.
The Allegan FOC has had a long-time need for such a program, providing payers an intensely supervised program with one-on-one guidance from the specialized enforcement officer. The ACT program had its first graduate on April 23, 2018. He had successfully completed the one-year probation program. He can now maintain housing, secure employment, and make regular and consistent payments. As of April 23, 2018, there are 16 participants in the ACT program. The goal for 2018 is to increase the number to 30 by the end of 2018.
Other counties are welcome to reach out to me at BSelf@allegancounty.org for more information on our program.
