Attorney General Announces Grant To Strengthen Harris County Families

AUSTIN - Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott today announced Harris County is one of 23 groups statewide to receive federal "Access and Visitation" funding to help parents without custody stay involved in their children's lives. The Harris County Domestic Relations Office will use the funds to assist parents in resolving legal disputes that arise over contact with their children.

"I am committed to helping fathers and mothers without custody play an active role in their children's lives," Attorney General Abbott said. "The grant represents security for Harris County children who need the love and support of both parents to make their dreams come true."

The Access and Visitation grants, totaling nearly $500,000 statewide, were awarded to private nonprofit organizations, courts, and local governments. The grant to Harris County will allow its Domestic Relations Office to provide mediation and legal representation to enforce court-ordered visitation.

"It is the children who suffer when parents disagree about access and visitation issues," added Attorney General Abbott. "These grants will help parents put aside personal differences for the good of their sons and daughters."

The grants are administered by the Attorney General's Child Support Division, and will fund services that help noncustodial parents maintain meaningful contact with their children. Approved services include mediation, visitation enforcement, supervised visitation, counseling, and parenting education. Providing funds to local organizations is a way the Attorney General's office can help children whose parents are engaged in custody or visitation disputes, since federal regulations prohibit state child support programs from handling these matters directly.

Access and Visitation funding is authorized by the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (the Welfare Reform Act). In accordance with the Act, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services distributes $10 million each year to states based on the number of children in the state who do not live with both parents. Texas grantees were selected following a formal application and review process, which included an independent panel of professionals with expertise in child and family issues.