As a recognized leader in services and supports for families in Rhode Island, RIPIN is uniquely qualified to continue our leadership role on parenting issues while expanding our reach to the needs of non-custodial parents, especially fathers.

Our contact person is Michelle Millet. For more information, contact him at 401.458.4405, rifatherhoodcoalition@gmail.com.

We are charter members of the Father and Family Network of Rhode Island (1997) and The State Fatherhood Leadership Forum (2000), which is sponsored by The National Practitioner’s Network for Fathers and Families. We also serve as a planning committee member of the regional For Fathering Project, which presents an annual conference in March on many issues of fatherhood.

To go to the web page for The Father & Family Network of Rhode Island, please click here.

To go to the web page for The Rhode Island Fatherhood Coalition, please click here.

The Problem of Father-lessness in Rhode Island

According to the 2003 KIDS COUNT Factbook, children living in single-parent families are at increased risk of living in poverty compared to children living in two-parent families. In Rhode Island, of the 67,978 children who lived in single-parent families in 2000, just 17% lived in households headed by a male.

Following the national trend, more Rhode Island children are growing up in single-parent households than any time since the census began collecting information on household living arrangements.

In 1970, only 12% of children in RI lived in single-parent families, compared to 23% in 1990 and 30% in 2000. State programs to address the growing needs of non-custodial parents have not kept up with these changes. Children in single-parent families, children born to unmarried mothers and children in cohabitating relationships are at a higher risk for poor outcomes than are children living in households headed by two parents in a low-conflict marriage.

Parents who have regular contact with their children are more likely to pay child support. In 2002 in Rhode Island, 48% of Rhode Island non-custodial parents under court order paid child support on time and in full. As of December 31, 2002, the amount of past due court-ordered child support in Rhode Island totaled $175 million. In 1999 in the United States 79% of parents who had regular contact with their children paid child support, compared to only 46% of parents who did not have regular contact.

Additionally, most children with incarcerated parents live in poverty before, during, and after their parents’ incarceration and many have been exposed to violent or traumatic experiences. Upon release from prison, a successful transition to the community often requires ongoing substance abuse or mental health services, adequate housing and assistance entering the job market. In this way, care taken to engage non-custodial fathers who are ex-offenders will help to re-connect them with their children. This will lower recidivism and help work toward better outcomes for children.