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Uses data from National Longitudinal Survey of Youth to trace poverty status and welfare use in five years following an exit from Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC). Results show substantial diversity in economic well-being. Women who were working when they exited from AFDC do better, and, to a lesser extent so do those who were married or had a partner when they exited. (Author/MKA)

Examines five-year compliance patterns among Wisconsin child support cases that came to court in 1986 to 1998. Compliance during the first year provides some indication of long-term compliance, but half of fathers change their compliance rate over the period. Differences between divorced and unmarried fathers are discussed. (Author/MKA)

Examines compliance with child support orders by divorced fathers in Wisconsin during 1981-89. The fathers' ability to pay is strongly related to compliance: compliance increases as the fathers' income increases. Analysis of nonpaying fathers suggests that although they are not a high-income group, they are generally not so poor that they could not afford to pay at least some support. (KW)

Examines Wisconsin divorce cases (n=3,774) before and after income-sharing guidelines were implemented relating to child support. Found that the negative impact of the mother's income on the size of child support orders has fallen substantially since the guidelines have been effective. Discusses implications. (RB)

Examined three data sets to explore assumptions about custodial fathers: there are few father-only families, most custodial fathers have remarried, many single fathers are widowers, custodial fathers have high incomes, and fathers primarily receive custody of older boys. Concluded that many assumptions are untrue and that child support policies should follow same principles regardless of who has custody. (Author/NB)

A research was conducted to determine the economic status of women who left the Aid to Families with Dependent Children program for five years. Based on the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth. most women have achieved moderate to high success in their economic lives. High levels of success were attained by women who have higher education and by those who have small families or older children.

Patterns of child support compliance in Wisconsin was established by studying child support cases that came to court from 1986-1988. Results show that support payments are generally stable for the 5-year period, thus nullifying the assumption that child support compliance declines in time. However, a growing polarization of groups of full payers and nonpayers was observed where those involved in divorce cases tend to make full payments, while those with paternity cases generally fail to provide financial support for their children.

An analysis of the influence of child support guidelines on the level of child support orders in Wisconsin shows that the guidelines have reduced the negative impact of the mother's income on the size of child support orders. The growing numbers of children affected by divorce has led to a shift in the income-sharing policy which calls for child support from all nonresident parents. In the case of children in the mother's custody after divorce, the income-sharing policy ensures support from the fathers irrespective of mothers' income.

Stringent enforcement systems positively affect compliance with child support orders by divorced fathers. The compliance rate increases with a rise in the father's income, especially in low-income groups. Noncompliant fathers do not generally have a high income but are still able to pay for some support. There is no connection between family ties and compliance. Compliance is marginally affected by the economic requirements of the mothers and children. Compliance decreases as the time since the divorce increases and contact with the children decreases.

Men are increasingly receiving custody of their children, and single-father families with children are increasing at a faster rate than even single-mother families. However, many observers still believe that there are few custodial fathers. Indeed, there are a number of myths concerning custodial fathers. We examine three data sets and determine that many of these assumptions about custodial fathers are simply not true. We argue that current child support policies should be reexamined to ensure that they follow the same principles when the custodial parent is the father as when the custodial parent is the mother.