Lt. Governor Gregory R. Francis recently hailed the launch of the Voluntary In-Hospital Paternity Acknowledgment Program as proof that the Virgin Islands government is striving to offer better products to its customers.  The program, a collaborative effort of the Departments of Health, Justice and territorial hospitals, was introduced at a press conference held at the Juan F. Luis Hospital on St. Croix on January 31, 2008. 

The Voluntary In-Hospital Paternity Acknowledgement Program enables unmarried couples to establish paternity before the mother and new baby are released from the hospital.  Radmur  Downing, Director of Vital Statistics for the Department of Health, said that the community cannot underestimate the value of establishing parentage.  “We are speaking about the financial, emotional and physical well-being of the community,” Downing said. 

Having the father’s name on record allows access to the father’s medical history, the establishment of child support, social security and insurance obligations.  Statistics also show that the father may be more likely to maintain a personal relationship with his child once the legal relationship is established.

Lt. Governor Francis says the program is about taking care of families.  “I am encouraged that this program promises to restore dignity and simplicity to the process of establishing paternity,” Francis stated.  He thanked the participating agencies for their commitment to improving customer service to new families and continued efforts to safeguard the welfare of our communities.

To date, approximately 80 couples on St. Croix have taken advantage of the opportunity to establish paternity before leaving the Juan F. Luis Hospital.  The St. Thomas/St. John district program is expected to begin at the Roy L. Schneider Hospital on St. Thomas shortly.