How It Works

The Clay County Parenting Court Program is completely voluntary, and applies to cases in the following circumstances:

Criminal Nonsupport:
On criminal nonsupport matters, qualifying Defendants must agree for the case to be transferred to Division 8, Family Court. They must provide all of the necessary paperwork to the Court, and enter a guilty plea to the charge of criminal nonsupport. After the plea, the Defendant will be given another court date the following month. The first date following plea will be on a Parenting Court docket date, to formally admit and welcome the Defendant into Parenting Court.

Civil Contempt:
On civil contempt matters, qualifying Non-custodial parents must complete all of the necessary paperwork, provide it to the Court, and acknowledge contempt. After the acknowledgement of contempt, the Non-custodial parent will be given another court date the following month. This first date following the acknowledgement of contempt will be on a Parenting Court docket date, to formally admit and welcome the Non-custodial Parent into Parenting Court. ...

Entering Parenting Court:
Parenting Court dockets take place the first available Monday every month in Division 8 at 9:00am. Participants in the Parenting Court Program commit to the program for 12 months, and upon successful completion of the program will have one of two outcomes available. If the participant was charged with criminal nonsupport, he/she will be able to withdraw his/her prior plea of guilty, and the State will dismiss the criminal charge. If the participant acknowledged civil contempt for failure to pay support, the State will request leave to file a motion to have the Judgment of Contempt set aside.

Requirements during the 12 month term of Parenting Court:
(The following is a sample-requirements vary on a case by case basis.)
🔹 Monthly court appearances before the Family Court Commissioner.
🔹 Compliance with monthly direction and requirements from the Court.
🔹 Regular monthly contact with the Parenting Court Case Manager, as directed.
🔹 Regular monthly child support payments.

Resources:
🔹 Workforce readiness training; job placement and retention assistance; life coaching; mentoring; referrals to other support services; responsible parenting and healthy relationship training
🔹 Information regarding modifications of child support obligations
🔹 Access to classes whose instructors use the 24/7 Dads® fathering curriculum which includes topics such as: self-awareness, fathering skills, parenting skills and relationship skills
🔹 Connections to Success, a program which provides a comprehensive network of services and support to help people living in poverty become economically self-sufficient
🔹 Referrals to substance abuse and/or mental health treatment as needed
🔹 Tools of Choice, a program in which participants learn to enhance their relationships and improve the behaviors of adults they support and the children in their care
🔹 Preparation of a payment plan that include both the current support obligation and accrued arrears
🔹 Mediation regarding child support and parenting issues