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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Monday, March 27, 2006
Contact: ACF Press Office
(202) 401-9215
Ohio Awarded $990,000 for Child Support Project
Funds help
children, support healthy marriage and parental relationships
WASHINGTON, D.C. --- Assistant Secretary for Children and Families at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Wade F. Horn, Ph.D., today announced $990,000 in federal funding for a demonstration project in the state of Ohio to promote improvements in child support enforcement efforts. The project will take place in Clark County.
“This grant will secure greater financial and emotional support from parents to enhance the well-being of at-risk children,” said Dr. Horn. “We now have 14 child-support enforcement projects that develop innovative strategies to support healthy marriages and parental relationships in communities across the nation.”
The grant is awarded under the authority of Section 1115 of the Social Security Act and requires the project be designed to improve the financial well-being of children or otherwise improve the operation of the child support enforcement program. Section 1115 authorizes states to conduct experimental, pilot or demonstration projects likely to assist in promoting the objectives of the Social Security Act.
The goals of the demonstration project include improving the establishment of paternity and increasing financial support for children as well as improving fathers’ relationships with both their children and the mothers of their children. The project also includes efforts to improve couple relationships and reduce the potential for domestic violence. The project is required to screen participants for domestic violence and refer appropriate individuals for services.
HHS’ Administration for Children and Families will conduct a comprehensive evaluation to assess how the project was implemented and its effect on families, children and the child support program.
The project will last five years and will be supplemented by local funding. The grant represents additional funding to the state and will not affect the amount of federal funds available to administer the child support program.
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Note: All HHS press releases, fact sheets and other press materials are available at www.hhs.gov/news