Tools to help you plan, implement, and review your child support-led employment services program as well as guidance identifying allowable federal funding sources.
Implementation and Program Planning Guide and Checklist
To help child support programs implement or enhance a noncustodial parent employment program, we’ve developed a guide and checklist. These documents identify most decisions that should be considered during planning and implementation.
- Guide for Employment Services Implementation and Program Planning.docx (DOCX) (also available as a PDF (PDF))
- Checklist for Employment Services Implementation and Program Planning.pdf (PDF)
Policy Resources
Policy resources identifying allowable federal funding sources and strategies.
Office of Family Assistance Funding Guidance
Office of Child Support Services Funding Guidance
- OCSS-DCL-24-15: Final Rule: Employment and Training Services for Noncustodial Parents in the Child Support Program
Announces the Final Rule allowing child support programs to use federal funds for employment and training services effective Jan. 13, 2025
- OCSE-AT-20-01: Reinvesting Child Support Incentive Payments
Provides updated information regarding exemptions for reinvestment of child support incentive payments.
- OCSS-IM-24-03 Section 1115 Waivers-Update
Outlines OCSS’s waiver authority under section 1115 of the Social Security Act. Clarifies funding and the elimination of the non-federal share for tribal child support agencies, waiver application and evaluation requirements, and technical assistance availability.
- OCSS-IM-24-05 Section 1115 Waivers to Fund NCP Work Activities - Update
Updates use of 1115 waivers to fund employment projects, considering elimination of tribal share effective October 2024.
- OCSE-IM-18-02: Use of IV-D Incentive Funds for NCP Work Activities
Clarifies that HHS approves exemption requests to use incentives to provide employment programs for noncustodial parents.
- OCSE-PIQ-12-02: Partnering with Other Programs
Clarifies allowable child support expenditures related to outreach, referral, and case management activities.
Federal Funding Models
There are only three federal funding approaches for an employment services program for noncustodial parents who are unable to pay child support; Section 1115 Waiver, Exemption to Reinvest Child Support Incentive Payments, and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF).
These overviews are for the two OCSE-sponsored approaches. They present information that should be considered while exploring each funding option:
This overview provides information about creating partnerships with TANF agencies to provide noncustodial parent employment services.
- TANF (PDF)