Co‐Parent Court: A Problem‐Solving Court Model for Supporting Unmarried Parents

Abstract

Co‐Parent Court is an innovative problem solving court in Hennepin County, Minnesota, which seeks to better meet the needs of unmarried co‐parents who are establishing paternity. A 3 year, mixed method quasi‐experimental design evaluation study was conducted on the outcomes of participation in Co‐Parent Court with data collected at pre, post and follow‐up. Outcomes examined for this article included child support payments and measures assessing attitudes about the importance of the role of fathers in a child's life. Findings included that child‐support payments across groups was connected to a father's ability to pay at pre‐survey and that a majority of both fathers and mothers reported that a father's involvement in the lives of his children went beyond an ability to pay child support. Key Points for the Family Court Community Courts‐Community agencies partnering to build a quality program for unmarried parents and their children. What types of community agencies are critical to provide a network of support for young, under‐resourced, unmarried parents? What does it take to get unmarried parents to complete a multi‐component intervention (education, case management and agreed upon parenting plan)?