Working Toward a Resolution Facilitating Dialogue Between Parents Using Principles of Procedural Justice

The federal Office of Child Support Enforcement (OCSE) funded the Procedural Justice Alternatives to Contempt (PJAC) grant to explore the application of procedural justice principles to enforcing child support orders. The grant targets noncustodial parents who are about to be referred for contempt. This brief explores the use of case conferences to develop a case action plan that identifies barriers and solutions. Both parents are invited to participate, and the conference can take place in several different ways. Case managers applied the procedural justice principles throughout the process to increase engagement and buy-in. Case managers found these conferences helpful but not without challenges.