Assessing Child Support Arrears in Nine Large States and the Nation
In September 2007, child support arrears that had accumulated across the nation had reached $107 billion. The purpose of this report is to provide information about the individuals who owe child support arrears, estimate how much arrears are likely to be collected, and identify the factors that have led to their rapid growth.
Read MoreState Use of Debt Compromise to Reduce Arrearages
This is a report on the prevalence, characteristics, and outcomes of debt compromise programs used by State child support enforcement (CSE) agencies to reduce child support arrearages.
Read MoreReducing Child Support Default Orders in Colorado
The project explored strategies that child support agencies might use to increase non-custodial parent (NCP) participation in proceedings to establish child support orders and reduce default orders. The research was conducted by the Division of Child Support Services with the Colorado Department of Human Services.
Read MoreConfronting Child Support Debt: A Baseline Profile of Maryland Arrears
This report provides data on the composition of child support arrearages in Maryland.
Read MoreCalifornia Compromise of Arrears Program Report to State Legislature
In response to a dramatic growth in child support arrears in the 1990’s and a study of the arrears by the Urban Institute, the California Legislature enacted a law allowing compromise of arrears when debt is owed the state. The legislation also required the Department of Child Support Services to report back to the Legislature…
Read MoreEvaluation of the Bright Start Demonstration
This report is the evaluation of Washington’s original three year demonstration grant for Washington’s Bright Start Program, which was designed to enhance in-hospital paternity establishment, and offer parents information about marriage, genetic testing, and parenting plans.
Read MorePreventing Child Support Arrears in Texas by Improving Front-end Processes
In 2003, the Texas Office of Attorney General fundamentally altered the process of establishing child support orders, going from a highly judicial process of establishing orders to a process that establishes most orders administratively. It also substantially improved the issuance of income withholding orders. This report describes the implementation of these reforms and measures their…
Read MoreEarly Intervention & Child Support Outcomes: Lessons Learned
In an effort to reduce the growth of child support arrears balances and boost current support collections, the Office of Child Support Enforcement recommends the adoption of “early intervention” strategies. The goal of early intervention is to engage non-custodial parents in the child support process and develop a relationship with them.
Read MoreUpdate Evaluation of the Bright Start Demonstration Program
This report is a sequel to the September 2008 report, and provides updated information regarding Washington’s Bright Start Program, which was designed to enhance in-hospital paternity establishment.
Read MoreColorado Early Intervention and Simplified Modification Project
This report covers Colorado’s Section 1115 grant to increase child support payments and reduce arrears through early intervention and modification of support orders in two counties, Denver and Pueblo. The research was conducted by the Division of Child Support Services with the Colorado Department of Human Services.
Read MoreEvaluation of the Bright Start Genetic Testing Program
This is an evaluation of Washington’s 1115 demonstration grant to improve the rates of in-hospital paternity establishment by enhancing relationships with hospital staff, and providing free genetic testing to couples who were uncertain about the child’s paternity or did not want to sign an acknowledgment in the hospital.
Read MoreArrears Stratification in Washington State: Developing Operational Protocols in a Data Mining Environment: Outcome Study
This report to Washington State Child Support Division by ECONorthwest summarizes the results of a grant to Washington State to conduct and study arrears stratification. It includes lessons learned and best practices.
Read MoreThe Underground Economy
The report of a task force led by former Michigan Supreme Court Chief Justice Maura Corrigan to examine the underground economy, and how it deprives minor children of financial support from their parents.
Read MoreThe Families Forward Program: Final Evaluation Report
This is a link to the final evaluation report on a child support debt reduction demonstration program, Families Forward, in Racine County, Wisconsin representing a collaboration among three entities: the Wisconsin Bureau of Child Support, the Racine County Child Support Department, and the Institute for Research on Poverty. The program aimed to reduce child support…
Read MoreDeadbeats, Deadbrokes, and Prisoners
This report examines child support legislation with respect to incarcerated parents, and the policies that parents who are incarcerated are “voluntarily unemployed”, and therefore not eligible for modifications of their child support orders.
Read MoreThe Use of Civil Contempt and Criminal Nonsupport as Child Support Enforcement Tools: A Report on Local Perspectives and the Availability of Data
This is a link to the first of two reports focused on child support and incarceration. Together, these reports will represent a first step in an effort to better understand Wisconsin’s use of two enforcement tools that may result in incarceration: civil (or remedial) contempt and criminal (or punitive) nonsupport.
Read MoreMaryland Child Support Case Stratification Pilot
A case stratification pilot was implemented by five Maryland jurisdictions from November 2010 to April 2011. This report examines the payment outcomes of the child support cases included in this pilot.
Read MoreChild Support Enforcement: Incarceration as the Last Resort Penalty For Nonpayment of Support
Using jail as an option for nonpayment of child support has many implications: Are low-income non-custodial parents who are unable to fulfill their child support obligations penalized for being poor? Should non-custodial parents charged with civil contempt of court be entitled to an attorney? Should non-custodial parents whose only offense is nonpayment of child support…
Read MoreImputed Income Among NCPs: Characteristics and Payment Outcomes
This report looks at cases with imputed income using a random sample of public (IV-D) child support cases in the Maryland Caseload. The study examines payment outcomes over a two-year period for cases in which noncustodial parent income appears to be imputed. Then, this information is compared to payment outcomes in cases where actual income…
Read More