According to State Statue 340:25-5-117 Instructions to Staff, when a child has multiple alleged fathers, CSS staff are to:
- determine which case to pursue first per Oklahoma Administrative Code 340:25-5-176
- update all other cases involving the alleged fathers of the child as open and currently uncollectible using OSIS Status 10; and
- update the OSIS Case Log in each case to reflect multiple alleged fathers and the legal determination made to proceed against one of the alleged fathers.
- (b) When a case against an alleged father is eligible for closure per Section 303.11 of Title 45 of the Code of Federal Regulations, the case against that alleged father is closed.
Most cases have one, maybe two alleged fathers. But, some cases may have more alleged fathers. The “old way” to do this was to use Status 10 and input code 22 “NCP Unknown.” However, there is a way to do this using the OSIS EPOC screen and the section labeled. “Secondary Alleged Fathers” on the lower half of the screen. This can be used beneficially because the alleged fathers are removed from the 157 Report. It stops the audit time frames and it excludes the multiple fathers.
Another benefit is that caseworkers do not have to remember to take the alleged fathers out of status 10. After EPOC is updated after genetic test results are received, or after a disproval, the cases in the Secondary Alleged Fathers field can be a reminder that caseworkers can remove the unneeded alleged father from the list, and continue on to the next case.
Further, when using Status 10, there is no easy way to keep track of which FGN (Family Group Number) is related to a case. The Status 10s must be written in a file with references to the CP and children. Using Secondary Alleged Fathers easily keeps alleged fathers with the cases they are associated with.
From its appearance, it seems the Secondary Alleged Fathers field allows two additional FGNs and alleged fathers’ names. But, if needed more alleged fathers can be added or “piggy-backed” on to the list.
To add additional FGNs, simply add the FGN and name of the alleged fathers in the spaces.
If you find more than 2 additional alleged fathers are needed, select the first father in the Secondary Alleged Father field. His information will populate the OSIS EPOC screen, and the third father in the original list will move up to the number 2 space. The fourth alleged father can be entered in the number 3 space.
This means that in OSIS EPOC, the additional secondary alleged fathers will continue to be numbered 2 and 3. If more than four alleged fathers are identified, repeat the process of selecting the father at the top of the list in the number 2 slot and the number 3 secondary alleged father will move up to the number 2 space and you can enter the next father in the number 3 space.
Because EPOC lists secondary fathers as FGN 2 and FGN 3, it will be important to keep track of who has been piggy-backed on whom. This is a flaw in OSIS and it is hoped that it will be remedied soon. Until then, confusion may be avoided when there are more than three alleged fathers by developing a system that assists with keeping track of which fathers are “piggy-backed” on which father.
Example
In the example below, we can see that FGN number 000XXX666001, Eobard Thawne is the person whose information is displayed on the EPOC screen. In the Secondary Alleged Fathers field there are two additional individuals, Hal Jordan (FGN 000XXX456001) and Barry Allen (FGN 000XXX789002).
Selecting Hal Jordan from the Secondary Alleged Fathers list opens his information in the EPOC screen, and moves Barry Allen to the second position in the Secondary Alleged Fathers field.
As many fathers as is needed can be added in this way, but only two at a time. Everything that is done on the case should be case-logged, making it easier to follow the case and see which fathers were “piggy-backed.”
Clear the Disproved Alleged Fathers
Once paternity has been established the disproved fathers on the Secondary Alleged Father field must be removed. To clear the disproved alleged fathers, go to EPOU and simply enter Y next to the name to be cleared and press Enter. Either one of the alleged fathers listed can be cleared, or both in the list can be cleared at the same time.
You might be interested in this article about Using EPOC to Generate an Authorization Number for Genetic Testing.