PENNSYLVANIA

CHILD SUPPORT AND TANF COORDINATION MEETINGS

Goal:To improve the coordination between the local TANF agency and the local child support agency.

Strategic Plan: Supports strategies 6 and 7 of the National Child Support Strategic Plan.

Description:Pennsylvania has 67 counties. The TANF program is centralized and the state-administered child support program is county-based.

In early 2003, the relationship between the local TANF program (County Assistance Office) and local Child Support Directors varied from tremendous cooperation to no interaction. The problems were compounded by system interface issues and misunderstandings between child support and TANF workers. To address cooperation issues, all of the partners initiated a series of meetings statewide. The partners included the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare, Bureau of Child Support Enforcement (BCSE) and Bureau of Operations, Domestic Relations Association of Pennsylvania (DRAP) and the ACF Region III office.

The meetings were rooted in the participants' vision of welfare reform: to have the county Assistance Office help a family at the front end when they apply for assistance. Child support helps a family sustain self-sufficiency at the back end when cash assistance is terminated.

ACF Region III convened the meetings of county directors for both programs and provided an overview of both programs to every part of the state. TANF County offices were told about how much child support can accomplish with the name and social security number of an alleged noncustodial parent. Child support directors were shown the type of information required by the TANF program about the noncustodial parent. Such information relates to medical insurance, child care, and transportation. Additionally, training and food stamp eligibility must be assessed. System interfaces between TANF and Child Support were explained to participants so that they would understand that a coding error could prevent a TANF referral from ever reaching the Child Support office.

At the conclusion of the meeting, the County Directors met to develop a customized plan for improving cooperation in the particular county. These plans included joint training, establishing liaisons, and providing "real," not automated response phone numbers, for each program. The re-determination process was a focus. This TANF semi-annual assessment process is an excellent opportunity for reviewing the status of the child support case and determining whether any additional action can be taken to establish and/or enforce a child support order.

TANF workers were provided with systems training so they could access the child support system. TANF staff training focused on the statewide coding system. Before the training, many TANF workers had no idea what happened to their referral once it was sent to child support.

In the spring and summer of 2004, a second set of meetings was held that involved the County Directors of Child Support and the County Assistance Office Directors. These meetings focused on recent systems issues, updates and employment issues for both custodial and noncustodial parents.

Results:

Coding:Since 2002, there has been a 55% statewide reduction in the number of cases coded incorrectly. In counties where individual training was conducted, the number of cases coded incorrectly was reduced by over 74%.

Paternity Establishment on IV-A Cases:The Pennsylvania Bureau of Child Support Enforcement compared performance on IV-A cases before and after the meetings were held. The first measurement was taken in March 2003. Paternity Establishment was 66%. After the meetings were held, the March 2004 measurement showed Paternity Establishment rose to 71%.

Support Order Establishment on IV-A Cases:Similarly, support order establishment rose from 54% in March 2003 to 58% in 2004.

These percentage increases translate to approximately 5,000 more TANF children having paternity established and 4,000 more having support orders established in Pennsylvania as a direct result of these collaboration meetings.

Collections:In 2003, before the IV-A/IV-D meetings began, the average collection on all TANF cases was $547. In 2005, after two meetings were held around the State, the average collection on all TANF cases was $625. Additionally, in 2003 the average TANF collection on cases with orders was $957. After the meetings were held, the average collection on TANF cases with child support orders increased to $1,000.

Status and Location:Six Child Support/TANF collaboration meetings were held in central locations in 2003. Five meetings were conducted in 2004. On October 1, 2005, a cooperative agreement between the Bureau of Child Support and the local Domestic Relations Offices went into effect to provide for additional meetings to be held.

Funding:Cost is minimal. The central location chosen for the meetings has minimized travel costs and travel time. The maximum travel time for any County Director is one hour. Most meetings were conducted in state training facilities. These facilities were provided at no cost and were equipped with audio visual equipment and other items necessary for training meetings.

Replication Advice:

1. An extensive analysis of the system interface between IV-A and IV-D is essential. This analysis in Pennsylvania revealed that referral from TANF to child support did not occur in some cases. Additionally, domestic violence issues were uncovered.
2. Access to child support information by TANF workers can improve referrals to child support. The access enables TANF workers to monitor their referrals and correct any problems that may occur. TANF workers can see how an effective referral can result in financial support for children.
3. The "Power of Two" video was used as a resource. Many TANF County Directors found the video made an effective argument for establishing paternity. All County Assistance offices in the state were provided with a copy of the video.
4. An overview of TANF for Child Support Directors and an overview of child support for TANF Directors were provided as a basis of discussion. All participants found this useful.
5. The re-determination of TANF eligibility also offers the chance to review the status of the child support case and request additional information from the custodial parent.
6. Providing an opportunity for each county to meet separately and develop a county action plan is an effective technique. These county-specific action plans have improved collaboration and take into account the size, demographics and economics of each county.
7. An attitude of problem solving rather than "finger pointing" provides the most effective environment to solve issues between the programs.

Contact:

John Clark

ACF Region III Office

Phone: 215-861-4067

Email: jclark@acf.hhs.gov