Child Support Report XXIV, No. 4, 20020401

Child Support Report

Vol. XXIV, No. 4, Apr 2002

Child Support Report is a publication of the Office of Child Support Enforcement, Division of Consumer Services.

CSR is published for information purposes only. No official endorsement of any practice, publication, or individual by the Department of Health and Human Services or the Office of Child Support Enforcement is intended or should be inferred.

West Virginia: Interstate Paternity Acknowledgement Certification Transmission - IPACT

New York State Partnership for Children

Wyoming Success Story

Child Support for Children on TANF

Collaborating to Empower Fathers

National Youth Summit

Regional Child Support Enforcement Training Liaisons

2002 Conference and Events Calendar

2002 HHS Poverty Guidelines

DOL Requests Comments on WIA and TANF Connections

West Virginia: Interstate Paternity Acknowledgement Certification Transmission - IPACT

A Federal OCSE Special Improvement Project grant was awarded to the West Virginia Bureau for Child Support Enforcement (WV BCSE) to improve interstate case processing by providing an electronic method to quickly and efficiently access West Virginia birth indexes, make paternity determinations and request birth certificates.

One of the most difficult tasks encountered by child support workers is to determine the type of action to initiate when the paternity status of the child is unknown. This becomes even more difficult when the child's birth occurred in another state and the worker has to locate a copy of the child's birth certificate.

The Interstate Paternity Acknowledgment Certification Transmission IPACT (IPACT) web-site was developed in cooperation with the WV Vital Registration Office (WV VRO). IPACT is a secure web-site that allows authorized workers throughout the country to access the WV birth indexes, determine if the birth certificate is on file and request certified copies of the birth certificate, if needed. There are plans to add paternity affidavits and WV death indexes soon. Once a request is made, the worker receives a confirmation and the request is immediately received in the WV VRO.

IPACT offers a simplified method for determining the parentage of a child through on-line access to WV birth indexes. This enables the worker to view the birth indexes to determine if a father is listed on the child's birth certificate. This allows the worker to determine whether or not to pursue a paternity or establishment action.

IPACT also promises improved turnaround time for requested documents. Caseworkers can choose to request up to five certified copies of a birth certificate from the web-site. The request immediately appears on the WV VRO's web-site screens and can be processed immediately.

Another benefit of IPACT involves quarterly invoices. Many vital registration offices will require a payment to be sent with the request for the birth certificate. It can be a very time-consuming and difficult process to have a check cut to send with each request. IPACT records all birth certificates requested and sent to the various state workers. The WV VRO can send an invoice to the appropriate state agency once per quarter for all requests sent.

The IPACT web-site is currently being piloted in three WV counties. WV is now beginning the rollout to other states that are interested in entering into a cooperative agreement to access the web-site.

The pilot project has shown other benefits that will be received once it is fully implemented. For example, caseworkers will be able to resolve IV-A referrals that do not have complete information on the mother, father and child(ren), to accurately code the child(ren)'s paternity status in the child support system, and to identify Social Security numbers for all participants.

Cooperation between the Bureau for Child Support Enforcement and the Vital Registration Office has been a key factor in the success of this project.

Cooperation between the Bureau for Child Support Enforcement and the Vital Registration Office has been a key factor in the success of this project. The State Registrar was also included as a valued member of the project staff from the beginning.

A high level of system security is of the essence. User ID and secure passwords are a must. Restrictions on the data that can be accessed must be in place. These were all issues discussed in detail during the design phase and decisions were made with the advice and approval of the WV VRO.

Child support workers in other states, through cooperative agreements with those states, can access this information. They are assigned secure User IDs and passwords to enable access to the site. Each state must designate a Database Administrator who is responsible for obtaining and maintaining User IDs for workers in its respective state.

If your state or county (if CSE program is funded through a local county) staff would like to be authorized to access IPACT, please contact Jim Dingeldine at 304-558-3582 or jimdingeldine@wvdhhr.org . Your state or county will be required to enter into a cooperative agreement with the WV BCSE.

New York State Partnership for Children

The goal of New York State's "Partnership for Children" initiative was to educate New York State Department of Correctional Services (DOCS) inmate counselors regarding the continued responsibilities of incarcerated non-custodial parents to their children during their periods of incarceration.

The initial stage in the initiative was to educate DOCS counselors about the services provided by the child support offices, and about how they could assist incarcerated parents.

The initial stage in the initiative was to educate DOCS counselors about the services provided by child support offices and about how they could assist incarcerated parents to negotiate their way through the child support and Family Court systems.

Between November and December 2001, all 800 inmate counselors in each of the 72 New York State correctional facilities were provided half-day training sessions in regional settings. Counselors were given packets of child support materials that they could order and distribute to incarcerated non-custodial parents.

Realizing that each DOCS facility has individuals at various stages of their incarcerations, the training focused on what actions should be taken at all stages of incarceration: beginning, during, just prior to release, and post-release.

Counselors were advised of the incarcerated parent's need to notify immediately the child support agency when that non-custodial parent is incarcerated, as well as the procedure for assisting the incarcerated parent to complete the voluntary acknowledgement of paternity form. Other instructions given the counselors were: the process for filing pro se modification petitions, types of notices provided from the child support agency and Family Court, and the process for telephonic testimony.

A critical part of this initiative was to get the Department of Corrections to actively participate in this initiative. DOCS took responsibility for scheduling the training in each of the various locations and mandating that counselors attend.

Contact: Monique Rabideau, Coordinator of Community Outreach, NYS Division of Child Support Enforcement, 40 North Pearl Street - 13C, Albany, NY 12243. E-mail aw1700@dfa.state.ny.us.

Wyoming Success Story

By: Wendy Gray

The Fourth Judicial District in Wyoming reports success on a Multi-state FIDM hit it received on an account totaling $18,000.

The Fourth Judicial District sent the federal notice of lien and notice of levy, and received $13,000 to cover the entire arrears amount owed by the non-custodial parent.

In addition, the Fourth Judicial District was able to get the District Court to issue an order that required the remaining amount in the account to be turned over to the Clerk of the District Court as security to guarantee that support payments are made in the future. This means that any month the non-custodial parent does not make a payment, or makes less than a full payment, the Clerk of the District Court office can make up the difference out of the security amount.

Wendy Gray, HHS, OCSE's Office of Automation and Program Operations.

Child Support for Children on TANF

By: Jan Rothstein

An Office of Inspector General (OIG) report issued in February 2002, entitled, "Child Support for Children on TANF," examined the alignment of child support orders with the earnings of non-custodial parents who have children on TANF and the relationship of this alignment with compliance with the support order. The report found that the most effective way to achieve both immediate and long-term child support payments for children on TANF was to set realistic support orders that closely relate to the non-custodial parent's earnings. The report found that setting a support order too high was likely to have a negative effect on payment compliance with little improvement over time.

The report found that non-custodial parents with poor earnings and high amounts of retroactive support ordered tended to have poorer rates of compliance with their support orders.

The OIG followed a group of 270 low-income noncustodial parents and examined four years of earnings data and compliance with their support orders.

The OIG found that "over half of our non-custodial parents with children on TANF had reported earnings below the poverty line." Another finding was that support orders for these low-income parents "represent 69 percent of their reported earnings." Additionally, the report found that noncustodial parents with poor earnings and high amounts of retroactive support ordered tended to have poorer rates of compliance with their support orders. Noncustodial parents with better earnings and lower retroactive support amounts tended to have better rates of compliance with their support orders.

The study concludes that setting realistic support orders "would likely result in increasing child support payments."

OCSE concurs with the report's findings and urges States to examine their policies used in the establishment of child support orders for low-income noncustodial parents. States may want to look at PIQ-00-03 that clarified the flexibility that exists under current law to forgive arrears owed to the State, enumerated the steps States can take to limit the number of "default" cases in which the obligor's income is imputed and encouraged States to help low-income noncustodial parents by using case management techniques and by training staff to refer non-paying obligors to appropriate services. States can also collaborate with Welfare-to-Work grantees in their State to get needed services to low-income noncustodial parents.

Jan Rothstein is the OIG-GAO Liaison for the Technical Assistance Branch of the Division of State, Tribal, and Local Assistance.

Collaborating to Empower Fathers

By: Lois Rakov

Chicago's first snow of the year couldn't keep some enthusiastic young fathers from a special Fathers and Families Forum. The men began arriving early, volunteering to help with logistics, eager to learn about their role as fathers in the lives of their children.

The forum was organized by the Illinois Child Support, Head Start, Child Care Collaboration Project funded by OCSE. Chicago's three largest Head Start Grantees collaborated with the Division of Child Support Enforcement to plan the event. Staffs and parents decided on the workshop topics and speakers.

The involvement of both parents in the financial and emotional support of their children was emphasized.

Enlisting the Erikson Institute as a co-sponsor ensured the forum's success, securing top-notch presenters and speakers. An independent institution of higher learning in Illinois, Erikson focuses exclusively on early childhood development education and works directly with community agencies in efforts to improve children's lives. The forum thus provided opportunity for Head Start parents to participate in early childhood education workshops conducted by the Erikson Institute.

In the forum's keynote address, Dr. R. Gatson, Head of Developmental/Behavior Pediatrics at Cook County Hospital, remarked, "I tell my patients' parents that often they can throw away the medications for hyperactivity when mom and dad come to school, sit in the classroom and are involved."

The forum included twelve workshops ranging from "Read It to Me Again: Helping Children Become Excited About Reading" to "Living Apart: Keeping Communications With Father." Exhibits and videos provided information and programs of interest to fathers and families.

The involvement of both parents in the financial and emotional support of their children was emphasized throughout the day.

Participants received books stressing the importance of dads' presence in the lives of their children, including, "In Daddy's Arms I am Tall," and "Day's Work." The Brookfield Zoo and the Chicago Children's Museum contributed free passes to all the fathers so they could accompany their children.

Some 150 men attended the forum and enthusiastically participated in the day's many events. They were predominantly fathers of Head Start and Early Head Start children as well as Head Start Male Involvement staff. The reaction of these young fathers was summed up best by one of them: "Today was the best day I've had in a long time. I really learned about my child and how I can help her grow."

All the men went home wearing "Fathers Matter" T-Shirts, feeling good about what they had learned and looking forward to putting new parenting skills into practice.

Lois Rakov, a member of the Illinois Division of Child Support Enforcement, coordinated the Child Support, Head Start, Child Care Collaboration Grant.

National Youth Summit

Washington, DC Hilton, June 26th-28th, 2002

HHS, in collaboration with other departments and agencies is hosting a National Youth Summit here from June 26-28, 2002. The event will feature prominent speakers and youth speakers and highlight "best practices" or good models of positive youth development. Four tracks of workshops will address the needs of youth in the following areas: 1) Supportive Families and Communities; 2) Safe and Healthy Lives; 3) Economic Self-Sufficiency and Success; and 4) Settings and Opportunities for Development and Service. For more information, and to register see the WEB site at: /programs/fysb/summit.html

Register Early! Only 1500 spaces are available

Regional Child Support Enforcement Training Liaisons

OCSE provides numerous training opportunities to the Nation's child support community. Please contact your Regional Training Liaison listed below for more information.

I Carol Monteiro (617) 565-2462

cmonteiro@acf.dhhs.gov

II Aracelis Alvarez (212) 264-2890, Ext. 124

aalvarez@acf.dhhs.gov

III John Clark (215) 861-4067

jclark@acf.dhhs.gov

IV Ann Russell (404) 562-2960

arussell@acf.dhhs.gov

V Ed Donoghue ((312) 353-4239

edonoghue@acf.dhhs.gov

VI Mae Rowlett (214) 767-8072

mrowlett@acf.dhhs.gov

VII Carol Downs-Witcraft (816) 426-3981, Ext. 156

cwitcraft@acf.dhhs.gov

VIII Karen Young (303) 844-3100, Ext. 396

kyoung@acf.dhhs.gov

IX Dossie Terrell (415) 437-8455

dterrell@acf.dhhs.gov

X Linda Gillett (206) 615-2552, Ext. 3047

lgillett@acf.dhhs.gov

2002 Conference and Events Calendar

May

14-16 Seventh Annual Bi-Regional Interstate Task Force Conference, (Regions IX and X), Office of the California Attorney General, Sacramento, CA, Cher Price, (916) 464-5227, Invitation Only.

14-16 ACF West Central Hub Conference Outreach to Faith-Based and Community Organizations "Renewing Our Commitment", Sheraton New Orleans, New Orleans, LA, Mae Frances Rowlett, (214) 767-8072.

20-22 Office of Child Support Enforcement OCSE) Tribal Grantees Meeting, Crystal City Courtyard by Marriott, Arlington, VA, Kenneth Ryan, (202) 401-5128.

29-31 Indiana Child Support Training Conference, Indianapolis, Marriott East at Shadeland, Indianapolis, IN, Patti Perkins, (317) 232-4922.

June

2-5 Eastern Domestic Relations Association of Pennsylvania Annual Conference, Sheraton Inn, Bucks County, Langhorne, PA, Jeannette Bowers, (717) 299-8145 or 299-8138.

2-6 ACF/State Information Systems Meeting, Sheraton Centre Hotel, Salt Lake City, UT, Robin Rushton, (202) 690-1244, Invitation Only.

9-12 Colorado Family Support Council Annual Training Conference, Holiday Inn DIA, Denver, CO, Dee Price-Sanders, (720) 947-5000.

10-11 The National Fatherhood Initiatives Fifth Annual Summit on Fatherhood, Riverwalk Hyatt Hotel, San Antonio, TX, Elaine Sherman, (301) 948-0599.

20 National Child Support Enforcement Association (NCSEA) Child Support Tele-Talk Broadcast Case Closure Regulations and Procedures, Tara McFarlane, (202) 624-8180.

August

4-8 National Child Support Enforcement Association (NCSEA) 51st Annual Conference and Exposition, Hilton, Riverside, New Orleans, LA, Tara McFarlane, (202) 624-8180.

8 Southwest Regional Conference IV-D Directors Roundtable, Hilton Riverside, New Orleans, LA, Lisa Woodruff-White or Janet Barnes,(225) 342-4780.

Date to be announced Georgia Child Support Enforcement Training Conference, TBA, Gail Moon,(404) 657-3866.

September

17-20 Missouri Child Support Enforcement Association (MCSEA) (25th Anniversary) Holiday Inn Executive Center, Columbia, MO, Ken Palermo, (636) 797-9852.

19 - National Child Support Enforcement Association (NCSEA) Child Support Tele-Talk Broadcast Interpreting Tax Returns, Tara McFarlane, (202) 624-8180.

23-25 - 12th National Office of Child Support Enforcement (OCSE) Training Conference, Hyatt Regency Crystal City, Arlington, VA Bertha J. Hammett, (202) 401-5292.

24-27 - Nebraska Child Support Enforcement Association (NCSEA) 21st Annual Training Conference, Midtown Holiday Inn, Grand Island, NE, Andi Clark, (402) 471-7384.

October

13-17 - Western Interstate Child Support Enforcement Council (WICSEC) 19th Annual Training Conference, Marriott Downtown Portland, OR, Cheri Breitenstein, (503) 945-6158.

2002 HHS Poverty Guidelines

One Version of the [U.S.] Federal Poverty Measure

There are two slightly different versions of the Federal poverty measure:

The poverty thresholds, and
The poverty guidelines.

Poverty thresholds, which are updated each year by the Census Bureau, are the original versions of the Federal poverty measure. The thresholds are used mainly for statistical purposes--for instance, preparing estimates of the number of Americans in poverty each year.

The poverty guidelines comprise the other version of the Federal poverty measure. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issues them each year in the Federal Register. The guidelines are a simplification of the poverty thresholds and are used in determining financial eligibility for certain Federal programs.

Poverty Guidelines Per Family Size
Size of Family Unit	48 Contiguous States and D.C.	Alaska	Hawaii
1	$8,860	$11,080	$10,200
2	11,940	14,930	13,740
3	15,020	18,780	17,280
4	18,100	22,630	60,820
5	21,180	26,480	24,360
6	27,340	34,180	31,440
7	27,340	34,180	31,440
8	30,420	38,030	34,980
For each additional person, add	3,080	3,850	3,540
Source: Federal Register: February 14, 2002 (Volume 67, Number 31)

DOL Requests Comments on WIA and TANF Connections

The Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration is soliciting comments on reauthorization of the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) and Linkages with the TANF program. Congress is scheduled to take up TANF reauthorization in 2002 and WIA in 2003. As a result, this notice invites public comments on two key reauthorization issues: what changes the administration should propose for WIA and how linkages between TANF and WIA can be improved. The deadline for comments is June 30, 2002. Comments related to the linkage of Title I of WIA and TANF, however, should be submitted as soon as possible.

Submit by mail to WIA/TANF Reauthorization, Attn: Maria Kniesler Flynn, Employment and Training Administration, 200 Constitution Ave., NW, Room S-4231, Washington, DC 20210, or FAX to (202) 693-3015, or send via email to reauthorization@doleta.gov.

We strongly encourage you to consider the potential benefit to custodial and/or noncustodial parents.

Source: Federal Register, Vol. 67 No.40.