Child
Support Enforcement Program
The
Child Support Enforcement (CSE) program is a Federal/State/Tribal
and local partnership to promote family self-sufficiency and child
well-being. States and some Tribes run child support programs
to locate noncustodial parents, establish paternity when necessary,
establish orders for child support, collect payments and take
enforcement action when needed. Child support agencies work across
State and Tribal boundaries and can also work internationally.
The program is designed to ensure that parents provide financial,
medical and emotional support for their children.
The
Federal government pays the major part of States’ operating
costs. In addition, discretionary funding is available for projects
designed to improve the effectiveness of child support enforcement
services for children and families.
For
example, Special Improvement Project (SIP) grants are available,
and State CSE agencies and community- and faith-based organizations,
among others, are eligible to apply. Recent funding opportunities
have been for improving customer service, enhancing child support
education services, including parenting and job-skills education
for noncustodial parents, improving health care for children in
child support cases and improving judicial and administrative
processes that lead to establishment and enforcement of fair child
support orders. In addition, State agencies are eligible to apply
for special grant funds to improve overall program performance
and States receive grants for programs that increase noncustodial
parents’ involvement in their children’s lives.
People
who need the services of the child support program work with State/local
or Tribal child support agencies that operate the program on a
day-to-day basis. Families receiving assistance under the Temporary
Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program receive services
automatically. Non-TANF families can apply for CSE services. Under
certain circumstances, noncustodial parents can use the program
to locate a parent to enforce or establish a custody or visitation
order.
| Contact
Information Office
of Child Support Enforcement
370 L’Enfant Promenade, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20447
Telephone: 202-401-9373
Fax: 202-205-5927
Website: www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cse/index.html
|
Keywords:
child
support; paternity establishment; family and child well-being. |
