*This is an archive page. The links are no longer being updated. 1994.01.06 : Report Shows Increase in Child Support Collections Contact: David H. Siegel Thursday, Jan. 6, 1994 (202) 401-9215 REPORT SHOWS INCREASE IN CHILD SUPPORT COLLECTIONS, BUT "MUCH MORE NEEDS TO BE DONE," SHALALA SAYS Nearly $8 billion in child support payments was collected in fiscal year 1992, almost 16 percent over the previous fiscal year, according to the 17th Annual Report to Congress on Child Support Enforcement released today. But "much more needs to be done to assure that all parents are providing the support their children deserve," HHS Secretary Donna E. Shalala said in releasing the report. Altogether, only about a quarter of all child support due is collected, the report says. "We must strengthen the current system for identifying parents who are not meeting their responsibilities, and we must take new steps to ensure that children get the support they need," Secretary Shalala said. "That is why President Clinton has charged the Working Group on Welfare Reform, Family Support and Independence with suggesting ways to dramatically improve child support enforcement." The report released today describes collections and other child support activities nationwide. According to the report, during fiscal year 1992, 895,000 child support orders were established -- an increase of 9 percent over the prior year, and 516,949 paternities were established -- an increase of 9.5 percent over the prior year. The Federal Parent Locator Service processed 3.9 million requests to locate absent parents during fiscal year 1992. "These findings indicate better results from continued efforts by state and local child support offices to vigorously assist families in obtaining support from a parent living outside of the home," said Mary Jo Bane, assistant secretary for children and families. "The quality of life of our nation's children will greatly improve as more parents meet their emotional and financial responsibilities to their children." With states' full implementation of the Family Support Act, collections are expected to continue increasing. For example, states must now use guidelines for determining the amount of child support to be awarded, unless the guidelines can be shown to be unjust or inappropriate in a particular case. In addition, states must review and modify (if appropriate) Aid to Families with Dependent Children child support cases every three years to keep award amounts at a fair level. Non-AFDC cases must be reviewed every three years at the request of either parent. Immediate wage withholding is also required for all child support cases being enforced through the child support program, unless both parents and/or the court agree to a different plan. For every $1 spent by the program, $4 was collected in 1992. However, of the 15.2 million child support cases in the public support enforcement system in fiscal year 1992, only 8.5 million, or 56 percent, had support orders. That left more than 6.6 million cases without orders to pay child support. Even when support orders were in place, enforcement to the point of an actual collection was by no means ensured. States reported collecting only about one-fourth of the child support due for FY 1992 and prior years. "Children need the emotional and financial support of both of their parents," Bane said. "Parents who are not meeting their financial obligations to their children must be required to do so and we must find ways to enable non-custodial parents to participate in raising their children." The child support enforcement program is administered by state and local governments with oversight and financial support given by HHS' Administration for Children and Families. The Working Group on Welfare Reform, Family Support and Independence, appointed by President Clinton in June, is developing strategies to improve child support enforcement as part of its recommendations to reform the welfare system. Bane is a co-chair of the working group. ###