Virginia Paternity Establishment Program Training Manual Virginia Paternity Establishment Program Training Manual TABLE OF CONTENTS Page # ABOUT THIS MANUAL .......................................................................................................................................... 6 SECTION 1: BACKGROUND .................................................................................................................................. 7 The Need for Voluntary Paternity Acknowledgment ........................................................................................ 7 What is Paternity Establishment? .............................................................................................................................. 8 What is the Legal Basis for the Virginia Paternity Establishment Program (VPEP)? ........................... 9 Federal Legislation ................................................................................................................................................... 9 State Legislation ..................................................................................................................................................... 10 What Is the Paternity Establishment Percentage (PEP)? .............................................................................. 10 Are There Penalties Associated with PEP? ......................................................................................................... 12 SECTION 2: THE VIRGINIA PATERNITY ESTABLISHMENT PROGRAM .............................................. 13 The Importance of Establishing Paternity .......................................................................................................... 13 Self-Esteem ............................................................................................................................................................... 13 Relationships ........................................................................................................................................................... 13 Identity ....................................................................................................................................................................... 13 Health History ......................................................................................................................................................... 13 Custody and Visitation ......................................................................................................................................... 13 Adoption .................................................................................................................................................................... 13 Emotional and Financial Security ................................................................................................................... 14 Legal Rights .............................................................................................................................................................. 14 VPEP’s Goals .................................................................................................................................................................... 14 The Hospitals’ Role in Paternity Acknowledgment ......................................................................................... 15 The VPEP Office’s Role in Paternity Establishment ......................................................................................... 15 The Local Department of Health Clinics’ Role in Paternity Acknowledgment ..................................... 16 The DVR’s Role in Paternity Acknowledgment ................................................................................................. 16 The DCSE’s Role in Paternity Acknowledgment ............................................................................................... 16 The DCSE Local Offices’ Role in Paternity Acknowledgment ...................................................................... 17 TOC 2 Virginia Paternity Establishment Program Training Manual SECTION 3: OVERVIEW OF THE PATERNITY ACKNOWLEDGMENT PROCESS ................................. 18 The Paternity Acknowledgment Process at the Hospital .............................................................................. 18 The Paternity Acknowledgment Process After Mom and Baby Are Discharged From the Hospital .................................................................................................................................. 19 General Guidelines for Hospital Staff .................................................................................................................... 19 Providing General Information to Parents about Paternity Acknowledgment.......................... 19 Instructing Parents and Answering Questions ........................................................................................ 20 Completing the Acknowledgment of Paternity ....................................................................................... 21 Signatures ............................................................................................................................................................... 21 Processing the Completed Forms ................................................................................................................. 22 SECTION 4: INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMPLETING THE ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF PATERNITY ...... 23 Questions to Consider When Completing the AOP .......................................................................................... 24 Specific Instructions for Completing Each Item on the AOP ........................................................................ 25 SECTION 5: SPECIAL SITUATIONS .................................................................................................................. 31 Legal Advice ..................................................................................................................................................................... 31 Married Mother—The Biological Father Is Not the Husband ..................................................................... 31 Genetic (DNA) Testing ................................................................................................................................................. 32 Immigration ..................................................................................................................................................................... 32 Minor Parents .................................................................................................................................................................. 33 Military Families ............................................................................................................................................................ 33 Military Parent Is Stationed Stateside ......................................................................................................... 33 Military Parent Is Deployed Overseas ......................................................................................................... 33 Incarcerated or Unavailable Father ....................................................................................................................... 33 Same-Sex Couples .......................................................................................................................................................... 34 Good-Cause Exceptions ............................................................................................................................................... 34 Disestablishing Paternity ........................................................................................................................................... 34 Safety .................................................................................................................................................................................. 35 Translations ..................................................................................................................................................................... 35 Artificial Insemination and Other Fertility Issues............................................................................................ 35 TOC 3 Virginia Paternity Establishment Program Training Manual SECTION 6: GENETIC (DNA) TESTING ........................................................................................................... 36 SECTION 7: NOTARY PUBLIC INFORMATION ............................................................................................. 37 Introduction ..................................................................................................................................................................... 37 How to Become a Notary Public in Virginia ........................................................................................................ 37 Notary Application Eligibility and Information ...................................................................................... 37 Important Guidelines for Virginia Notaries ........................................................................................................ 38 SECTION 8: EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION .................................................................................................. 41 Communicating