MILWAUKEE FATHERHOOD SUMMIT RESULTS IN MORE THAN $1.5 MILLION WAIVED IN INTEREST ON DEBT OWED BY AREA FATHERS

Milwaukee Fatherhood Initiative working with Dads to end cycle of
child support delinquency

MILWAUKEE, WI— Thanks to the programming of the Milwaukee Fatherhood Summit, which has helped more than 3,000 men become more involved in the lives of their children, the Milwaukee County Department of Child Support has announced that it will waive more than $1.5 million in child support interest owed to the state. The department has seen more than 1,000 dads since the summit concluded and has waived interest for close to 700 men.

The 2nd Annual Milwaukee Fatherhood Summit wrapped up on October 13th and featured popular workshops such as driver’s license recovery, health and wellness and, for the first time, a job fair component. The job fair was added to assist men in finding employment with family supporting wages.

“The fact that in just two months the County is prepared to waive such a significant dollar amount speaks to the enormous success of the Milwaukee Fatherhood Initiative of re-engaging men into the lives of their children,” said Mayor Tom Barrett, who spearheaded the launch of the MFI two years ago. “Strong families are the foundation of strong neighborhoods and a strong Milwaukee, and the Milwaukee Fatherhood summit is touching thousands of families across the city. I am looking forward to seeing more successes as the Initiative continues to make an impact on the lives of fathers and families in Milwaukee.”

“We are thrilled to learn that the Milwaukee Fatherhood Initiative is having such a positive impact on the family unit and on men’s understanding of their roles as fathers,” said Terence Ray, Director of the Milwaukee Fatherhood Initiative. “It will take some time for that paradigm shift to take place, but the feedback we are getting from our community and corporate partners is encouraging.

“Each year interest in and response to the Milwaukee Fatherhood Initiative grows. We hope to continue to expand the scope of services until all barriers that prevent dads who want to be better fathers and husbands are knocked down.”

For more information regarding the Milwaukee Fatherhood Initiative or for information on how you can participate, please call Terence Ray at (414) 286-5653

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