Voluntary Acknowledgement of Paternity: Making fathers legal

By Katie Kazimir

Kent Sussex Community Services

DOVER – How does a father’s name end up on their child’s birth certificate if the parents aren’t married at the child’s time of birth?

That may not be a question everyone asks, but for unmarried parents – which four out of 10 children in this state are born to – it’s certainly a question that pops up if not before a baby arrives, then at some point after.

Kent Sussex Community Services has launched a Voluntary Acknowledgement of Paternity outreach program to help unmarried fathers in southern Delaware understand their parental rights and make sure they have an opportunity to file appropriate VAP forms.

“Voluntary Acknowledgement of Paternity is the opportunity for fathers to have their name placed on their child’s birth certificate,” said KSCS Paternity Outreach Specialist John Webb of Dover.

“Establishing paternity gives a child born out-of-wedlock the same right to benefits as a child born to married parents,” the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services Division of Child Support says.

The VAP can be completed any time after a child is born until that child turns 18, or 19 if still in high school.

Both the father and mother must complete the form in front of a notary public. It becomes final and legally binding 60 days after it is filed with the Office of Vital Statistics.

Mr. Webb said that without filing a VAP, fathers do not have any legal rights to be involved in the decision making process in their child’s life.

“Also, the filing of a VAP will allow a father to provide benefits to a child that may be needed, such as health care and survivors benefits,” he said.

Mr. Webb said anyone with questions about VAP should reach out to him.

“I have spoken with fathers who have questions about genetic testing and those who doubt they are the father of the child. The VAP program is available to give straight answers to those questions,” he said.

According to Mr. Webb, the VAP should only be signed by parents who are certain of the child’s paternity and anyone who has doubts should obtain a genetic test, seek legal advice or contact the Division of Child Support Enforcement.

“Paternity must be established before a father’s name can be placed on a child’s birth certificate,” the division says.

It’s not only the parents of new babies that may want to know more about VAP, but concerned family members as well.

“I also have spoken to the future grandparents of children who want direct answers as to paternity to aid their children in decision making,” Mr. Webb said.

“I am available to answer questions about paternity issues.”

Mr. Webb said he can meet anyone interested in learning more about VAP when and where it is convenient for them.

“I can provide both the paperwork necessary to place a father’s name on the birth certificate and I will file the paperwork with Vital Statistics,” he said.

“This guarantees fathers certain rights and the children benefits.”

Mr. Webb will be at the Laurel Public Library, 101 E. 4^th St., from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, March 7, with a display table and answers to the public’s VAP questions.

For more information about Voluntary Acknowledgement of Paternity, contact Mr. Webb at 302-535-1983 or jwebb@kscs.org.

Tommy’s life turns around

By Katie Kazimir

Kent Sussex Community Services

Life’s a lot better for Tommy* since he started medication assisted treatment for opiate abuse with Kent Sussex Community Services in Georgetown eight years ago.

“I can lead a normal life without worry,” he said.

Despite being college educated and coming from “good people,” Tommy said he began going down a dark road with substance abuse more than 15 years ago.

He tried methadone treatment for the first time in 2001 in New Castle County, but said he kept relapsing because he wasn’t really ready to quit.

“It got worse and worse and worse,” Tommy said, until finally he caught his first charge in 2006, a violent felony, and ended up behind bars.

When he got out in 2007, Tommy said he knew it was time to change his life. He moved with family in Sussex County and was referred to Kent Sussex Community Services after he expressed concern to his physician about pain medication he would be prescribed following an elbow surgery.

Since starting medication assisted treatment with Kent Sussex Community Services almost eight years ago, Tommy said he hasn’t relapsed once.

“It’s been great. It’s allowed me to stay clean and get my life back on track,” he said.

The methadone treatment, coupled with counseling, has taken away Tommy’s compulsion to do drugs, he said, allowing him to focus on rebuilding his life.

Today he is still using medication assisted treatment, working, engaged and a proud father of a 17-month-old son. He plans to go back to college and wants to become a drug and alcohol counselor.

“What methadone did for me is it scratched that itch to do drugs,” Tommy said.

“I can move forward without that compulsion holding me back.”

Kent Sussex Community Services has medication assisted treatment and counseling for substance abuse with offices in Georgetown, Laurel and Dover.

For more information, visit www.kscs.org or call (302) 735-7790 in Dover, (302) 854-0172 in Georgetown or (302) 877-0444 in Laurel.

*Names and other identifying information have been changed to protect the individual’s privacy.