By Johnathan Graves
Buffalo, NY – New York State is providing a $500,000 grant to Erie County for a pilot program aimed at so-called "dead-beat dads." The county is one of five pilot sites in New York for the "Dedicated, Accountable, Dependable and Self-Sufficiency" -- or DADS -- program.
The program targets non-custodial fathers with little money and no job for paying their child support.
Erie Community College is a partner in the DADS program, helping those enrolled obtain their GED and learn new job skills. First Deputy Commissioner of the State Social Services Department, Deborah Merrifield, says such a program is long overdue.
"Boys and girls need their dads," Merrifield said. "They need their dads socially and emotionally, as well as economically. We hope that throught the DADS program that the children of Erie County will get their dads back."