Child Suppport Report

Child Support Report - July 1997

Imaging Technology Payment Processing in Washington State

Medical Support for Military Children

Access to Health Care for IV-D Children

Technical Assistance Now Available

Did You Know

Call for Articles

One-Stop Federal Statistics Web Site

Navajo Nation and New Mexico Sign Agreement

South Dakota's Most Wanted

National Training Work Group Meets

Coming Soon: Mark Your Calendar

1997 Conference Calendar

New Brochure Available

Imaging Technology Payment Processing in Washington State

by Steve Spitzer Without hiring additional staff, how do you process more payments in less time and with less money while remaining in compliance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles and meeting federal and state distribution time lines?

In March of 1997, Washington State's Division of Child Support (DCS) installed a new child support payment processing system that does just that. Taking advantage of imaging technology, the new Financial Management Imaging System (FMIS) is the culmination of a three year effort to redesign the State's centralized child support payment processing system.

Prior to FMIS, payments could not be deposited to the State treasury until processing was complete. This made it impossible to deposit the money within the 24 hour time frame required by State law. (Section 312 of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996--welfare reform--requires distribution of collected support within two business days after receipt.)

In addition, with the volume of payments being processed in hard copy form, internal controls could not be implemented under the old system without drastically slowing down the payment processing--making it difficult to adhere to Generally Accepted Accounting Principles. Another problem: 35 percent of child support receipts do not contain enough information to process payments without additional research to identify the correct cases to apply the money to--which meant more delays in getting payments to customers. FMIS met all these challenges within the first 60 days of its implementation.

Deposits are now made within 24 hours, which brings DCS into compliance with State law and saves thousands of dollars in banking fees. Internal controls also are improved, providing better protection of the money under DCS control. And delays in distributing payments because of inadequate payer identification have been substantially reduced, enabling us to meet new federal time lines for processing payments under welfare reform.

All of this has been done without hiring additional child support payment processing staff.

Christine Loman, an FMIS payment processing clerk says, "This system is fast and efficient. I no longer have to shuffle paper!" Adds Jerome Sweet, another FMIS clerk, "Many things that used to go through five or six hands now go through only one."

How FMIS Works

Scanners convert checks into digital images, which are indexed, the deposit created, and receipt numbers assigned--all on the day the money is received.

FMIS will enable a support enforcement officer to immediately look up payments from a field location in 17 different ways.

After indexing, the receipts are released for electronic identification. Checks are sent to the bank while payment processing continues using the digital images. Once the bank account number and its corresponding receipt information are entered into FMIS, the system will identify that account number with its corresponding information each time a payment is received.

This process, called "modeling," enables payments to be processed even when the payer has not provided enough payment identification information. (Payments that require further research are researched only once; after that the system automatically identifies the case from the modeling information.) "The modeling feature is a great help when processing multiple payments," comments Lynnie Larsen, Cash Operations Manager for Washington State DCS.

The next phase will involve extending FMIS to DCS's field offices. FMIS will enable a support enforcement officer to immediately look up payments from a field location in 17 different ways, including: payment amount, bank account number, payment number, receipt number, payer name, social security number, and even a range of dates or amounts.

Meg Sollenberger, Washington State's Child Support Enforcement Director, comments, "I am very proud of my staff's wonderful accomplishment in developing FMIS-a state-of-the-art payment processing system that is achieving all the goals we set for it." For more information on FMIS, or imaging, contact Steve Spitzer at (360) 586-5383. Or write to him on the Internet at: SSPITZER@DSHS.WA.GOV.

Steve Spitzer is Imaging Project Manager in Washington State's Division of Child Support.

Medical Support for Military Children

by Sheck Chin Q:

I've been trying, without success, to get medical support for children of parents who are in the military. I've sent the medical support request to the Finance Office in Cleveland, but they do not respond. What do I need to do?

Medical support requests should not be sent to the Defense Finance and Accounting Service in Cleveland. Medical coverage for a child of a military parent is obtained by enrolling the child in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS). Either the sponsor (the service member) or the custodial parent can enroll the child at any military facility with on-line access to DEERS-usually the base personnel or military identification card issuance office.

Normally, the custodial parent will have to travel to a base to complete an application for a dependent's identification card.

The nearest U.S. Navy base is over a hundred miles away and the custodial parent does not have any means to get there. Is there another way to get the child enrolled in DEERS?

The branch of service of the DEERS enrollment site does not have to match the service of the noncustodial parent (enrollment of Navy dependents, for example, can be taken care of at an Army facility), so it might be possible in this case to find a more convenient location. Normally, the custodial parent will have to travel to a base to complete an application for a dependent's identification card (DoD Form 1172).

The application is then forwarded to the service member for acknowledgement. When the form is returned to the local DEERS site, the custodial parent and child will need to return to complete the process and obtain a photo ID card for the child.

Although DEERS enrollment can be completed by mail, the process may vary for different DEERS locations. It is usually best to call the nearest DEERS site to inquire about the option of enrolling a military member's child by mail. For additional information about enrollment in DEERS, or the location of the nearest enrollment site, contact any military personnel office or review OCSE Information Memorandum IM-96-02. For a copy call OCSE's National Resource Center at (202) 401-9383.) Also, see the September '96 CSR, "Seeking Medical Benefits for the Military."

Sheck Chin is OCSE's Military Liaison Officer.

Access to Health Care for IV-D Children

by Nehemiah Rucker A goal of the Child Support Enforcement Program is to ensure that all child support orders contain provisions for the health care coverage of children in IV-D cases-to ensure that these children receive the health care services so vital to a healthy start in life.

But working parents who have incomes just above the poverty level do not qualify for Medicaid, nor can they often afford the cost of private health insurance. Prior to passage of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993 (OBRA '93), practices by some employers blocked access to health insurance coverage by children of these "working poor" parents.

For example, some employers denied enrollment of a child under a noncustodial parent's employment-based health plan if the child:

was born out of wedlock;

was not claimed as a dependent on the noncustodial parent's federal income tax return;

did not reside with the noncustodial parent or in the insurer's service area; or if

the application for benefits was made at a time outside the "open enrollment" period.

Under OBRA '93, however, neither employers nor insurers are allowed to deny enrollment to a child on the basis of any of these factors.

OBRA '93 authorizes a custodial parent (or the IV-D or Medicaid agency) to enroll a child under family coverage of a noncustodial parent's employer-based health plan if the noncustodial parent is enrolled and is required to provide health insurance for the child. Employers must withhold from the noncustodial parent's wages the noncustodial parent's share (if any) of the premium for health coverage up to the maximum amount allowed under the Consumer Credit Protection Act and pay this share to the insurer. Once a child is enrolled in an employer-based health plan, the employer may not disenroll the hild unless:

the employer is given satisfactory evidence that the court or administrative order directing enrollment is no longer in effect;

the child is or will be enrolled in comparable coverage taking effect not later than the date of disenrollment; or

the employer has eliminated family health coverage for all of its employees.

These provisions enhance the effectiveness of the CSE Program's efforts to help children of low income parents gain access to health benefits.

Even though the major medical child support provisions of OBRA '93 (which revised section 1908 of the Social Security Act) are regulated by the Medicaid program, these provisions greatly enhance the effectiveness of the Child Support Enforcement Program's efforts to help children of low income parents gain access to the health benefits available through the employment-based plans of their noncustodial parents.

If you would like more information, contact Nehemiah Rucker at (202) 401-9282.

Nehemiah Rucker is OCSE Medical and Health Care Liaison Officer.

Technical Assistance Now Available

State child support enforcement leadership, together with federal regional and central office OCSE staff, have completed work on a national plan for the provision of technical assistance (TA). After extensive planning and preparation, OCSE regional and central office staff are now ready to ensure that TA is provided by the best available means--state or federal staff, or private contractor--to serve the needs of state child support programs.

The TA plan is based on states' own self-assessments of their technical assistance needs. These were analyzed by each federal regional office and developed into a regional TA plan. Those TA needs requiring assistance beyond regional office resources were then incorporated into the national plan by representatives of state agencies and the regional/central office OCSE staff during a two-day retreat.

The TA plan is based on states' own self-assessments of their technical assistance needs.

OCSE's Technical Assistance Branch, in cooperation with the regional offices and states, then developed its strategy for meeting the needs identified in the national plan. It includes:

on-site and off-site TA to analyze programs and provide transfer of

best practices from other states;

forums, conferences, retreats, and workshops to discuss issues and seek consensus resolutions to problems; and

drafting and disseminating publications, videos, and other outreach materials for caseworkers, managers, attorneys, and other child support players.

Most of the materials are expected eventually to be available electronically on the OCSE Internet Home Page, through the OCSE Clearinghouse, on CD-ROM, on computer diskette, or in hard copy.

While OCSE is already addressing some of the needs through conferences, workshops, information dissemination, and on-site assistance, the agency also is gearing up to serve states on a variety of issues for which-so far-no explicit TA request has bee received. A paternity forum, a retreat on "One State Interstate" issues, and a Good Cause/Non-cooperation Symposium have already been held. And a list of resource persons who are knowledgeable about aspects of welfare reform has been produced for wide dissemination.

States can make TA requests through the regional offices. For more information, call your local federal regional office, or call Susan Greenblatt of OCSE's Technical Assistance Branch at (202) 401-4849.

Did You Know...

Both custodial fathers and custodial mothers state one of the two most common reasons they were not awarded child support was that "they did not pursue an award" (one-third each). The other reason for custodial fathers was that "they did not want an award" (one-third), and for custodial mothers it was that "they were unable to locate the father" (one-fifth).

While the general practice is for persons applying for support enforcement services to apply for the complete range of services, an applicant can limit his or her request to "location-only" services. Through this mechanism, a child's attorney or court-appointed guardian ad litem could obtain access to the full range of location sources.

[Sources for reasons support not awarded: Current Population Reports, Bureau of the Census, Consumer Incomes Series P60-187.]

Call for Articles

Authors wanted! CSR is looking for articles. We are especially interested in articles written by local-level caseworkers that describe new and innovative approaches to the job. Four to six hundred words is a good length for us, though we accept longer pieces on occasion. Photos are a plus. If you have a fresh idea and would like to share it with your colleagues in other states, or if you know of someone who does, give Phil Sharman a call at (202) 401-4626.

One-Stop Federal Statistics Web Site

Official federal statistics are now much easier and faster to find, thanks to a new WorldWide Web site: FedStats (www.fedstats.gov). FedStats uses the Internet's powerful link and search capabilities to navigate publicly available statistics from over 70 federal agencies. Now, Internet users can find needed information without having to know in advance which agency produces the data.

"FedStats takes advantage of Internet technology to make federal statistics more accessible," said Sally Katzen, administrator of the Office of Management and Budget's Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs.

"Today, a high school student with a modem in Boise, Idaho, has better access to Federal statistics than top officials in Washington had five years ago."

Katzen stressed that FedStats should not raise concerns about the confidentiality of personal information. "No data on individuals can be accessed through FedStats," she said. "The statistics are summaries and have no names or addresses attached to them."

Today, a high school student in Boise, Idaho, has better access to federal statistics than top officials in Washington had five years ago.

FedStats' major features include:

An "A to Z" index that provides direct access to detailed data listings in 275 ategories;

A keyword search capability that enables users to search Web sites linked to FedStats;

"Fast Facts" links, which allow users to visit the Federal Statistics Briefing Rooms or an on-line version of frequently requested tables from the Statistical Abstract of the United States;

An "Agencies" heading that allows users to link to the Web sites of federal statistical agencies, or select from a menu of predetermined key words for those agencies;

A "Programs" heading that offers 14 groups of agency data program summaries, in areas ranging from agriculture to transportation;

A "Regional Statistics" heading that offers data that are broken down into geographic areas-frequently at state or county levels; and

Links to agency contacts, press releases, and government statistical agencies outside the United States.

An on-line form permits users to comment on the site and make suggestions.

Navajo Nation and New Mexico Sign Agreement

On May 1, 1997, representatives from OCSE'sregional and central offices visited the Navajo Indian Nation in Window Rock, Arizona, to witness the signing of the Performance Agreement between the Navajo Nation and New Mexico.

The Agreement reaffirms the full and equal status of the partners.

The Agreement reaffirms the full and equal status of the partners for the enforcement of child support on Navajo Nation lands and enhances the existing partnership between the Navajo Nation, New Mexico's child support enforcement program, and ACF's Region VI child support office.

The visit included a tour of the Navajo Nation's public and governmental facilities and a meeting with Navajo Nation Vice-President Thomas Atcitty, other Navajo officials, and representatives from the Navajo Nation Child Support Enforcement Program and the Office of Navajo Women.

Signing the agreement were Vice-President Atcitty for the Navajo Nation; New Mexico Human Services Department Secretary Duke Rodriguez; Assistant Deputy Director Anne F. Donovan for OCSE; and ACF West Central Hub Director Leon McCowan for the Regional Offices.

Also present were Ben Silva, Director of New Mexico's child support program; Lawrence Dunmore, a Native American attorney in OCSE; and Carl Rich, Region VI child support enforcement program specialist for New Mexico.

So. Dakota's Most Wanted

by Rosanne Robinson South Dakota has mounted three Most Wanted Poster campaigns--one in 1995 and two in 1996. The State is in the process of finalizing its 1997 poster for release this summer.

The current poster was sent to 20 post offices in heavily populated areas of the State and is shown regularly on two cable TV stations that have wide State coverage. It is also available on the State's child support enforcement Internet Home Page.

Each poster contains eight pictures, with descriptive information, of noncustodial parents who owe a significant child support arrearage. South Dakota makes an effort to include at least one female noncustodial parent on each poster.

Of the 23 nonsupporting parents included on Most Wanted posters since 1995, 19 have been located, including six of the eight who appear on the current poster.

South Dakota estimates a total of $15,000 has been collected as a direct result of implementing its Most Wanted poster campaigns. Nine of the 19 located obligors have made child support payments. Five of these nine parents are now making regular payments, and four have made occasional payments. Enforcement actions are currently pending on the remaining 10 obligors who were located.

In addition to increasing collections, South Dakota's Office of Child Support Enforcement staff emphasize a secondary benefit from the campaigns: the posters serve to increase the visibility of the child support enforcement program. Staff report that they regularly receive positive feedback on South Dakota's collection efforts associated with the publication of the posters.

For additional information, contact South Dakota's Louween Schoenhard at (605) 773-3641.

Rosanne Robinson is a Program Specialist in OCSE's Denver Regional Office.

Coming Soon: Mark Your Calendar

OCSE 7th National CSE Training Conference "Child Support's New Era: Strengthening Agencies to Strengthen Families--Changing CSE through Partnerships, Collaboration, and Technology." September 15 - 17, 1997, Radisson Plaza Hotel at Mark Center, 5000 Seminary Road, Alexandria, VA 22311, (703) 845-1010. For information: Mae Rowlett at (202) 401-3443.

National Training Work Group Meets

by Charlene Butler Following up on what was learned from the Training Needs Assessment (see April '97 CSR),the National Child Support Enforcement Training Work Group met recently in Alexandria, Virginia, to review progress and consider next steps.

Calling the meeting a "catalyst for momentum," Work Group co-chair Beth Dulac, Vermont Training Coordinator, encouraged the sub-group participants to set goals and develop realistic work plans around them to help states meet their training priorities.

Michelle Jefferson, Director of OCSE's Division of State and Local Assistance, asked the members to focus on those issues identified by the states in the Training Needs Assessment. "By doing so," she said, "I am confident that we will be able to complete the many tasks that we have set for ourselves."

Work Group members identified four sub-groups to carry out their mission. The sub-groups, with their chairs, are:

Distance Learning, Beth Dulac, Vermont;

Indexing, Tom Horan, Connecticut;

Curriculum, Bertha Hammett, OCSE; and

Coordination, Leslee Arnold, Nevada.

The next meeting of the Work Group will take place in Washington DC, September 18, the day following OCSE's 7th National CSE Training Conference. For more information, call Charlene Butler at (202) 401-5091 or Beth Dulac at (802) 241-2825.

Charlene Butler is a Program Specialist in OCSE's Division of State and Local Assistance.