    [Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 36, Number 25 (Monday, June 26, 2000)]
    [Pages 1392-1393]
    [Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    <R04>
    Memorandum on Joint Guidance on Supporting Responsible Fatherhood
    Efforts

    June 16, 2000

    Memorandum for the Attorney General, the Secretary of Agriculture, the
    Secretary of Labor, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, the
    Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, the Secretary of Education

    Subject:  Joint Guidance on Supporting Responsible Fatherhood Efforts

        One of the fundamental goals of my Administration has been to
    strengthen fathers' involvement in their children's lives. In support of
    that goal, I directed all executive departments and agencies to review
    their policies, programs, and initiatives to ensure that they supported
    men in their role as fathers. The review concluded that the Federal
    Government can play an important role by providing coordinated guidance
    and resources

    [[Page 1393]]

    that support responsible fatherhood to individuals and State and local
    governments.
        Under the leadership of Vice President Gore, my Administration has
    made significant progress in promoting greater father involvement,
    within the Federal workforce as well as through Federal programs and
    resources, and through partnerships with States and communities,
    foundations, and the research community.
        As you know, my Budget for Fiscal Year 2001 substantially expands
    our efforts to promote responsible fatherhood and strengthen families.
    The Budget proposes $255 million for the first year of a new ``Fathers
    Work/Families Win'' initiative to promote responsible fatherhood and
    support working families, allows States to simplify child support
    distribution rules, provides incentives to States that pass through more
    child support payments directly to families, and extends Welfare-to-Work
    grants to help noncustodial parents move into lasting unsubsidized jobs.
    In addition, my Budget proposes to increase the Earned Income Tax Credit
    by nearly $24 billion over 10 years, providing an additional work
    incentive of as much as $1,200 in tax relief to an estimated 6.8 million
    hardworking mothers and fathers.
        Recent research indicates that promoting and rewarding work for low-
    income families can support marital stability, increase employment and
    earnings, reduce domestic violence, and improve children's behavior and
    school performance. In addition, research confirms that child support is
    an important factor in lifting children out of poverty. There is also
    evidence that a large proportion of unmarried fathers are involved with
    their children at birth, but that these relationships tend to weaken
    over time. And employed fathers are more likely to be able to support
    their children financially and emotionally.
        These results, as well as the 1995 review, show the importance of
    providing Federal guidance and resources to States that can support
    responsible fatherhood, work, and family. Therefore, I direct the
    Secretary of Health and Human Services, in conjunction with the
    Secretaries of Labor, Agriculture, Education, Housing and Urban
    Development, and the Attorney General, to develop and provide, within 90
    days of the date of this memorandum, coordinated guidance on Federal
    resources and opportunities for promoting responsible fatherhood.
        This guidance should:
     (1)         clearly identify existing resources available, including
                Federal welfare reform block grant funds, Welfare-to-Work
                and workforce development resources, educational resources,
                paternity establishment and child support, Food Stamp
                Employment and Training, and low-income housing and
                community development funds;
     (2)         help States, local governments, community- and faith-based
                organizations, fatherhood practitioners, and families,
                identify and use Federal resources and opportunities to
                strengthen the many roles of fathers in families;
     (3)         clarify the extent to which existing policies and
                practices, including child support policies, can be modified
                to help ensure available resources effectively serve lower-
                income fathers;
     (4)         identify opportunities to build on and sustain the
                involvement of fathers in low-income, unmarried parent,
                ``fragile families''; and
     (5)         list contact information to help interested parties access
                information on a regular basis.
        This guidance should be accessible, and made available through the
    websites of Federal agencies, as well as in printed form.
                                                William J. Clinton

     Note:  This memorandum was made available by the Office of the Press
    Secretary on June 16 but was embargoed for release until 10:06 a.m. on
    June 17. An original was not available for verification of the content
    of this memorandum.