Fathers’ Support Center, St. Louis (FSC)
Legal Clinic
“PROVIDING QUALITY & AFFORDABLE LEGAL
SERVICES”
Presented February 22, 2012
by
Halbert Sullivan, CEO
Chester Deanes, Director of Community Outreach
13th Annual National Fatherhood & Families
Conference
“Restore the Legacy of Fathers” – Los Angeles, CA 2012
Our Mission
To foster healthy relationships by strengthening families
and communities
Our Vision
Every father is a responsible father who is committed to a
cohesive family relationship.
13th Annual National Fatherhood & Families
Conference
“Restore the Legacy of Fathers” – Los Angeles, CA 2012
FSC Programs
•The Family Formation Program
•The Employment Development and Mentoring Program
•Youth Leadership and Development Program
•Fathers’ Rap: A Self-Help Fatherhood Support Program
•Male Wellness and Health
•The Legal Clinic
13th Annual National Fatherhood & Families
Conference
“Restore the Legacy of Fathers” – Los Angeles, CA 2012
Who We Serve
FSCs’ typical clients are:
African-American Males
Ages 17-54
Unemployed/ Underemployed
Non-custodial Fathers with Limited Interaction with Children
Men who want to be responsible fathers
13th Annual National Fatherhood & Families
Conference
“Restore the Legacy of Fathers” – Los Angeles, CA 2012
Children from fatherless homes are:
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8 times more likely to go to prison.
5 times more likely to commit suicide.
20 times more likely to have behavioral problems.
32 times more likely to run away.
10 times more likely to abuse chemical substances.
9 times more likely to drop out of high school.
33 times more likely to be seriously abused.
73 times more likely to be fatally abused.
One-tenth as likely to get A's in school.
On average have a 44% higher mortality rate.
On average have a 72% lower standard of living
13th Annual National Fatherhood & Families
Conference
“Restore the Legacy of Fathers” – Los Angeles, CA 2012
The Legal Clinic
The FSC Legal Clinic offers affordable legal
assistance through the services of 2 attorney,
social worker and law students thus making
visitation attainable. Our work is to put the father
back in the picture. The Fathers’ Support Centers’
Legal Clinic works to challenge the consequences
of fatherless families and improve the lives of our
community’s children.
13th Annual National Fatherhood & Families
Conference
“Restore the Legacy of Fathers” – Los Angeles, CA 2012
Services Offered
Legal Visitation
Child Support Modifications
Expungements
Legal Custody
**Only in cases where children are in jeopardy
of becoming wards of the state.
13th Annual National Fatherhood & Families
Conference
“Restore the Legacy of Fathers” – Los Angeles, CA 2012
Market Overview
Analysis revealed no legal clinics reserved for the
poor that focus on issues of noncustodial, non-resident
parents’ visitation and child custody
Pre-paid Legal – Does not handle family law matters
Family Law Attorneys and Firms- Too expensive
FSC Consumer Reports:
75% report negative experiences with our competitors
(law clinics, family law firms and family law attorneys).
13th Annual National Fatherhood & Families
Conference
“Restore the Legacy of Fathers” – Los Angeles, CA 2012
Market Overview
Market Segmentation
13th Annual National Fatherhood & Families
Conference
“Restore the Legacy of Fathers” – Los Angeles, CA 2012
Consumers based on Legal Issues
Operations and Logistics
13th Annual National Fatherhood & Families
Conference
“Restore the Legacy of Fathers” – Los Angeles, CA 2012
Legal Clinic Structure
Attorney
2 Law Students
Social Worker
13th Annual National Fatherhood & Families
Conference
“Restore the Legacy of Fathers” – Los Angeles, CA 2012
Goals- Short-term Operating Goals
Develop a Business Plan and a Strategic Plan
Develop a Procedural Manual
Meet with select area Judges and Prosecutors
and introduce the Law Clinic
Hire Family Law Attorney and recruit two 3rd year
law students.
Develop Payment Plans
Provide legal services to 165 customers
13th Annual National Fatherhood & Families
Conference
“Restore the Legacy of Fathers” – Los Angeles, CA 2012
Goals- Intermediate Operating Goals
Review and update Business Plan and Strategic Plan
Maintain relationships with area Law Schools
Review and update Procedural Manual
Review and update Payment Plans
Review and update assessment tools
Develop a meeting plan with those select
Judges/Prosecutors
Develop plan to expand the services offered at the
Legal Clinic
13th Annual National Fatherhood & Families
Conference
“Restore the Legacy of Fathers” – Los Angeles, CA 2012
Goals- Long-term Operating Goals
To become the premier Legal Clinic in the State that
provides services to our population
Successful Branding of the Legal Clinic to make
FSCs’ Legal Clinic the go-to place
Develop additional Law Clinics in the State
Develop an Internship program with area Law
Schools for the purpose of recruiting and maintaining
Law students and supporting their education goals
Continued advocacy for policies that recognize the
parenting rights of the never-married non-custodial
parent
13th Annual National Fatherhood & Families
Conference
“Restore the Legacy of Fathers” – Los Angeles, CA 2012
Measuring Social Value
Measurements of Social Impact:
Number of non-custodial (clients) paying childsupport
Number of non-custodial (clients) that remain in
the child’s life
Number of non-custodial parents referred to
program by previous clients
13th Annual National Fatherhood & Families
Conference
“Restore the Legacy of Fathers” – Los Angeles, CA 2012
Measuring Social Value cont
Number of fathers receiving legal visitation
Number of fathers receiving child support
modifications
Number of fathers receiving custody (only when
children are at risk of being placed in state care )
Number of non-custodial parents participating in
other FSC programs
13th Annual National Fatherhood & Families
Conference
“Restore the Legacy of Fathers” – Los Angeles, CA 2012
Potential Risks
Major
Professional liability
Performance
Competitive response
New laws/ regulations
on legal clinics
13th Annual National Fatherhood & Families
Conference
“Restore the Legacy of Fathers” – Los Angeles, CA 2012
Minor
 Growing too quickly
 Frequent turn-over
 Competing internal
priorities
 Mission Creep
 Losing focus
 Spending financial
resources single bottom
line
Funding and Sustainability
Start-Up Funding
Board of Directors investment -$15,000
SEIC Investment- $35,000
Sustainability
Diverse revenue streams
Fees for client services
Investment/ interest income
Expand target market
13th Annual National Fatherhood & Families
Conference
“Restore the Legacy of Fathers” – Los Angeles, CA 2012
Senate Bill 140
CHILD SUPPORT COURTS
Courts can now refer defendants to
•education, vocational/employment training
• substance abuse treatment, or work programs.
Upon completion, the defendant may have the charges
against him/her
•dismissed
•reduced
•or modified
 Each participant must be a nonviolent person.
Criminal non-support matters may be charged as a
class A misdemeanors as opposed to class D felonies
13th Annual National Fatherhood & Families
Conference
“Restore the Legacy of Fathers” – Los Angeles, CA 2012
Senate Bill 140 (cont’d)
If placed on probation or parole, payment of current
support and satisfaction of arrears may be required
Failure to pay may result in further sentencing
Nonviolent first and second–time offenders currently
incarcerated may be considered for work release
Courts have the ability to structure payments based
upon the defendants’ net income
Provides greater opportunity for sustainable employment,
thereby impacting the financial and emotional support of
the child
www.senate.mo.gov/09info/pdf-bill/tat/SB140.pdf
13th Annual National Fatherhood & Families
Conference
Senate Bill 141
Clear, definitive notification of possible paternity
judgments
Fathers are given opportunity to challenge
paternity judgments with genetic testing
Fathers have until December 31, 2011 to set aside
paternity judgments entered before August 28, 2009
•For judgments entered after August 28, 2009 fathers have
two years from the date of the judgment to challenge
paternity
13th Annual National Fatherhood & Families
Conference
“Restore the Legacy of Fathers” – Los Angeles, CA 2012
Senate Bill 141 (cont’d)
If the father is not the biological father,
•the court may enter a judgment setting aside previous
judgment of paternity,
•extinguish current and past support
• modify the child’s birth certificate
Fathers may also apply for orders to expunge any
criminal nonsupport charge or conviction
Fathers have no cause of action under SB 141 to
sue the State of Missouri for any child support that
was previously paid
13th Annual National Fatherhood & Families
Conference
“Restore the Legacy of Fathers” – Los Angeles, CA 2012
Missouri House Bill 1694
This act allows:
•Child support to be terminated if the state registry indicates that the
child is 21 years old and the support order does not require further
payment
•Automated the termination of the child support order when support is
•The act also allows for a hearing regarding a child's emancipation
when it is disputed by the parties, rather than treating the dispute as
a motion to modify the support obligation.
•This act requires the family support division to advise the obligor of
the procedures to contest a lien placed, by the family support
division, on workers' compensation benefits on the grounds that such
lien is a mistake of fact.
•If prima facie evidence is established, the obligor may only assert
mistake of fact as a defense. The obligor shall have the burden of
proof on such issues.
13th Annual National Fatherhood & Families
Conference
“Restore the Legacy of Fathers” – Los Angeles, CA 2012
!
Fathers’ Support Center, St. Louis
4411 N. Newstead Ave.
St. Louis, MO 63115
(314) 333-4170
www.fatherssupportcenter.org
13th Annual National Fatherhood & Families
Conference
“Restore the Legacy of Fathers” – Los Angeles, CA 2012