Child Support Enforcement Twenty-Third Annual Report to Congress

Foreward

List of Tables
FY 1998 Program Highlights
Foreword by Secretary Shalala
Recent Accomplishments (FY 1999 and Following)
The Child Support Enforcement Program: An Overview
Program Implementation
Service To Customers
Special Initiatives
Research
Appendices

President Clinton and I have made improving child support enforcement and increasing child support collections a top priority. This 23rd Annual Report to Congress highlights the Child Support Enforcement (CSE) program's accomplishments and demonstrates the progress made during FY 1998.

Together with our partners in the nation's CSE program, we have strengthened the enforcement of child support dramatically since 1992. In FY 1998, a record $14.3 billion was collected on behalf of children, an increase of 81 percent since FY 1992. In addition, 1.4 million paternities were established, an increase of 171 percent over FY 1992, largely due to paternities established through the voluntary in-hospital paternity programs.

Gains also were made in establishing support orders and in locating noncustodial parents who were not paying child support: 1.1 million orders were established and the income, assets, or employers of 6.5 million parents were located.

These numbers--a testimony to the commitment and dedication of individuals at the local, State, and Federal levels of the CSE program--send a strong message that parental responsibility is not an option.

Although this important work has helped millions of children, millions more are still deprived of the support they need and deserve. The collection of child support is a crucial part of this Administration's continuing resolve to help families attain self-sufficiency.

On signing the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act into law in 1996, President Clinton noted that "There is no area where we need more personal responsibility than child support." When paid regularly, it provides millions of children and families the resources needed to improve their daily lives.

Fiscal Year 1998 is the last year the Annual Report is required to be submitted, and a great deal has happened in the child support program since that time. We are including, immediately following this Foreword, a special section on more recent accomplishments.

Donna E. Shalala

Child Support Enforcement Twenty-Third Annual Report to Congress

Table of Contents