Date of Conferral

4-24-2026

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Public Policy and Administration

Advisor

Lori Demeter

Abstract

Child support policy in the United States has been widely studied as a method to ensure financial responsibility; however, existing research has identified concerns regarding enforcement practices and their disproportionate impact on African American noncustodial fathers in Georgia. Limited qualitative research examined how Georgia fathers experience and interprets these policies, creating a gap in understanding how policy implementation influences paternal engagement. The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine how African American noncustodial fathers in Georgia perceived the child support process and to explore how modernization of enforcement policies might improve paternal engagement. Guided by policy feedback theory, this study examined how policy execution shaped fathers’ institutional trust and economic stability. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 10 participants residing across various regions of Georgia. Interviews were audio recorded, transcribed verbatim and analyzed using Soldana’s method for thematic analysis. Analysis revealed four major themes: perceptions of systemic inequity in policy design, enforcement-related economic hardships, emotional strain on fatherhood identity, and participant-driven recommendations for reform. Participants reported that rigid enforcement means such as wage garnishment and license suspension limited their ability to maintain employment. Findings suggested that while fathers supported child support policy, they perceived implementation practices as misaligned with economic realities. Implications for positive social change include supporting policy modernization strategies and support programs.

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