�
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Monday, October 3, 2005
Contact: Jane Norris
(202) 401-9215
HHS Awards Colorado $830,180 for Child Support Project
Funds
help children, support healthy marriage and parental relationships
WASHINGTON, D.C. --- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Assistant Secretary for Children and Families, Wade F. Horn, Ph.D., today announced $830,180 in federal funding for a demonstration project in the state of Colorado to promote improvements in child support enforcement efforts. The project will take place in up to four counties in the state.
“This grant does not simply deliver money to the state of Colorado, it secures greater financial and emotional support from parents to enhance the well-being of at-risk children—a priority of the Bush Administration,” said Dr. Horn. “We now have 13 child-support enforcement projects that develop and test 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 that 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 three years and be supplemented by local and private 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.
###
Note: All HHS press releases, fact sheets and other press materials are available at www.hhs.gov/news