Training for Collaboration Associates, Stakeholders, and Partners

Who are we?

Child support enforcement works in partnership at the Federal, State, and local levels in all States and territories, usually in the human services department, department of revenue, or the State Attorney General’s office. Several Native American Tribes have established child support enforcement programs, as well.

Our emphasis is on the family. Our primary goals are:

• To help families become self-sufficient by making child support a more reliable source of income.
  
• To ensure children have financial and medical security.
  
• To build a culture of compliance where parents support their children voluntarily and reliably.

What services do we offer?

Child support enforcement offers services for both custodial and noncustodial parents:

• Locating Noncustodial Parents
  
• Establishing Paternity
  
• Establishing Support Orders
  
• Collecting Support Orders
  
• Noncustodial Parent Services

Who is eligible for child support services?

Services are available for any custodial or noncustodial parent who needs them.

Child Support Enforcement’s goals are to ensure both parents are treated fairly, kept informed, and their concerns recognized.

Our services are offered with complete confidentiality. It is a parent’s legal right to obtain financial support for his or her child. There are no residency or proof of citizenship requirements for using the child support services.

How does someone find us?

Child support offices are located in every State and territory and some Tribes. For more information, visit www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cse/extinf.html

For a listing of Tribal Child support programs, visit http://ocse.acf.hhs.gov/int/directories/index.cfm?fuseaction=main.tribalivd

They may also be listed under the human services, department of revenue, or the State Attorney General’s office in the local government section of the phone book.

Spanish-speaking caseworkers are available in some locations. Child support offices also have access to various resources that can help a client who needs to communicate in Spanish.

How does someone apply for our services?

Those seeking child support services must apply directly through their State, local agency, or one of the Tribes running the child support program.

The easiest way is to contact the local child support office, where an appointment may be made to see someone in person or speak to someone on the phone.

Depending on what services are needed, the caseworker will provide information on how to apply and what documents to bring.

Examples of documents that may be requested:

• Picture identification (for example, driver’s license, student I.D.).
  
• Social Security number (including the other parent’s).
  
• Birth certificate for the child/children.
  
• Information about the other parent including address, employment, date, and place of birth.
  
• Information about expenses such as your child’s health care and daycare.
  
• Custodial parent’s income and assets.

How do you know if your client can benefit from child support services?

If your client needs to get a support order, locate a noncustodial parent, collect child support, establish payroll withholding to pay child support, establish paternity, or review a child support order because circumstances have changed, we can help.

It is a parent’s legal right to access our services to better ensure the financial and medical security of the child.