Friday’s the day to “Step Up to the Plate,” an event that recognizes and rewards noncustodial parents who stay in touch with their kids and family obligations. Bill Roach in the Iowa Attorney General’s office says the event is co-sponsored every year with Iowa’s Division of Family Services. He explains the event’s to honor parents who remain involved in their kids’ lives after divorce, a chance to offer them discounted tickets to the Iowa Cubs and a night out with their children. Roach admits we hear plenty about the “deadbeat dads” and other parents who don’t pay their child support or see their children. Roach says at the A-G’s office they work hard with DHS to collect money from those parents, but also want to acknowledge those who stay involved and celebrate that with this kind of event.
They do similar events with minor-league teams around the state — Friday in Des Moines, later this month in Waterloo, Davenport, Clinton and Burlington. Roach acknowledges divorced parents without custody of their kids sometimes come to the state’s attention for failing to pay the child support needed to bring up the children. Free coupons have been sent to non-custodial parents in the Des Moines area for Friday’s 5:30 game.