Outreach

Family Attorney Talks to Boys at Austin Children’s Service About Parental Rights

(from Austin Children’s Shelter)

Texas has one of the highest rates of teen pregnancy in the United States and in fact, was ranked fourth in the nation in 2005.  In Texas, every ten minutes a teen girl gets pregnant.

Most teen pregnancy programs are directed toward girls. At ACS, we established a child development program for boys and girls to teach prevention and child development as well as the harsh reality of becoming a teen parent.  Recently, our teens spent an evening learning about another side of the subject with Garrett Higley, an attorney focusing in family law.

Mr. Higley volunteered to speak to all the teens at the Shelter about paternity rights and he had a captivated audience that asked lots of questions.  The kids learned that teen fathers have rights and obligations.  Mr. Higley talked with them about the importance of being a father, what to expect regarding parentage, child support, and what their duties and obligations are until the child turns 18.

“The biggest revelation,” said Kathleen Weager, early childhood educator, “was that the kids realized that fathers are legally responsible no matter what the age of paternity.”

The talk was so successful that we hope to have Mr. Higley back three or four times a year to speak with the kids.