Explainers and Case Managers: Engaging California Parents During Child Support Order Establishment

Two California counties used Behavioral Intervention strategies to reduce the number of default child support orders. Parents in California were being served for paternity cases with a service complaint packet, which contained long and confusing documents. The counties were finding that most parents didn’t respond to service, which led to default orders. Because research shows that parents who were involved with establishment are more likely to pay, the counties wanted to devise a strategy to increase involvement. The counties turned to behavioral intervention techniques and implemented: specially trained case managers to focus on establishment, an explainer sheet attached to the packet with instructions on filling out the Answer Form, and personal contact with the parents at two points during the establishment process.