[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.