MR. GARY WAINT: Good afternoon. I'm with the State Courts Administrator's Office, and we currently have a new division called the Division of Juvenile and Family Court Programs. It's not laws of courts. It's court programs. So, I'd like to make that change.

     I was asked to come here today to speak to parent education programs and kind of present to you information what's happening statewide, and I have prepared some handouts for you, too, that kind of announces parent education programs that are ongoing at the present time.

     Some background information. The state courts administrator's office, through a cooperative agreement with the Division of Child Support Enforcement, receives approximately $186,000 of general funds that are offered as grants to circuit courts for startup mediation programs. Also, start-up medications are allowances for parent education programs. Generally, medication programs are targeted at visitation and custody. Primarily in that Title IV-D types of cases. This year, FY 98, approximately $50,000 was transmitted back to the Division of Child Support Enforcement for the MARCH committee, which I'm sure you heard some testimony of earlier of. So, that left approximately $136,000 to fund other RFP from the circuits courts for mediation programs. As I mentioned, parent education is certainly an allowable expense in conjunction with mediation services.

     To prepare for today, there was a survey that done in April for this year, as well as we had survey returned to us as late as October 7th, to tell us from all presiding judges in Missouri's 45 judicial circuits, identifying parent education programs operating in their circuits, and I presented some results to you that are included in that packet of information.

     Currently there are 20 circuits using parent education programs that serve 38 different counties, including the City of St. Louis.

     In 1996, parent education programs served an estimated 16,000 parents.

     Out of the 20 circuits, 18 of those offered mandated programs, court ordered programs. In two circuits, parent education is not mandated, and you can see that they served only 10 to 20 parents. One circuit is currently in the planning stages of development and has not initiated parent education services as of yet.

     17 circuits contract for educational services. Two circuits, basically, provide parent education services through their own court personnel. One circuit is currently in the planning stage, as I mentioned also.
 In way of fees. Currently 17 circuits fees are paid by participants and range for a maximum of $75, per person, to a low of $15. In three circuits, there is no cost to parents who attend parent education programs and services.
 
    I've also included in the packet, a kind of a map that describes the family courts operation in Missouri, that are currently in existence. You note that family courts are operating in the 7th, 11th, 13th, 16th, 21st, 22nd and 23rd circuits, as well as the 31st. Currently we are funding mediation programs in the 7th, 11th, 28th, 31st, 32nd, and 37th judicial circuits in Missouri.

     If you have any, I'll be happy to answer in questions. I made my comments brief, as though I presented to you in those pamphlets.

     DOUGHERTY: Question. In terms of those areas that have done the mandatory parenting education, which I believe will be early on in the process.

     WAINT: Yes.

     DOUGHERTY:  Is there any data to suggest that those who are doing the mandatory program, which you say even though they may resent being sent there and ordered, they very have a favorable outcome.

     WAINT: Yes.

     DOUGHERTY: Is there data that suggests that involvement at that level, I guess I want to ask the question both ways, reduces the need for mediation - maybe I want to reverse it, increases the acceptance of mediation as a way to resolve problems? Let me just stop there.

     WAINT: It's a good question, and the answer is, it's unknown whether or not it is. One could conclude that mediation and...... work closer to resolve by agreement disputes and visitation and custody. It's no question that it does require some research. Jackson County, for instance, has just completed an evaluation that was completed by an outside evaluation firm there, that suggests that the parties have a favorable response mediation. Yet, their return back to court for those cases that reached the mediation agreement was two out of five cases. But, it did not augment that evaluation study with the parent education component.

     DOUGHERTY: Do you have a similar document, to date, on the mediation numbers. Obviously, not here at the moment, but do you have something similar up to date?

     WAINT: Part of that map that is included in your handout includes some circuits that provide mediation. They're color-coded. For example, blue indicates that they're receiving funds from OSCA. Now, the red indicates family court and mediation. The light blue indicates, of course, they're receiving mediation services ......

     DOUGHERTY: How is your analysis going, or your evaluation going on those right now?

     WAINT: On the MARCH?

     DOUGHERTY: Yes.

     WAINT: I'm not involved directly in the MARCH evaluation. I think they've contracted with separate, an outside firm to do the evaluation.

     CASKEY: Any other questions? Thank you, very much, for sharing it with us. We appreciate the handout, too.