August 2023 Child Support Report
Understanding Child Support Lingo
Division of Customer Communications, OCSS
Have you ever looked up the definition of a word and become more confused about its meaning? Sometimes definitions—especially in government—use other technical terms that make it more difficult to understand. It’s always important when writing for the public to use plain language principles so that readers understand content the first time they read it.
One of our goals is to use plain language to communicate clear and concise information to help our partners and the public understand child support. Earlier this year, we updated and moved information from our previous Child Support Handbook to a webpage called Understanding Child Support. This update helps parents easily understand and navigate the child support process.
Now, we’ve updated our Child Support Glossary to help visitors understand the child support lingo. We’ve geared the content toward parents and moved the content from a PDF to a webpage. Some of the benefits of the new glossary are:
- Readability: The OCSS mobile-friendly website allows visitors to easily read information without having to zoom in on a PDF.
- Searchability: Search engines will pull content into their results since the glossary is hosted on a webpage.
- Accessibility: The glossary can be translated into 80 languages using the “Select Language” drop-down menu at the top right corner of the website.
- Cross-referencing: Terms are cross-referenced and linked so you can learn more about programs included in the definition.
- Clarity: We’ve rewritten definitions using plain language principles so that it’s easy to understand the first time it’s read.
The example below shows how we updated a definition.
BEFORE:
Initiating Jurisdiction
The state, tribal, or county court, or administrative agency that sends a request for action to another court or agency that can exercise legal authority against a party to an action. In cases where a state is trying to establish an initial child support order on behalf of a resident custodial parent and does not have a long-arm jurisdiction (cannot legally claim personal jurisdiction over a person who is not a resident), it must file a Two-State Action under the Uniform Interstate Family Support Act (UIFSA). Tribes are not subject to UIFSA.AFTER:
Initiating Agency
A state or tribal IV-D program or an agency in which an individual has applied for or is receiving services.
We hope our revised glossary of child support information is more accessible and easier to understand for parents. If you have any questions, email OCSScommunications@acf.hhs.gov.
Streamlining the Tribal Plan Amendment Process
Dana Huckabee, Program Manager, OCSS Region 4
At OCSS, we’re working to improve the services we provide to tribal child support programs by using human-centered design. This approach gives us a way to collaborate with tribal directors to identify problems and gain insight and input on the design, format, and delivery of potential solutions. One of the projects we launched focused on improving the tribal plan management process.
A tribal child support plan includes all the codes or laws, procedures, policies, and guidelines a program will follow to meet the title IV-D requirements. During interviews with tribal directors, we learned many new directors didn't have a copy of their original plan. We also consistently heard tribes wanted to provide input on changes that impact their work and templates and forms for OCSS processes. To make amending the tribal plan easier, we developed a prototype and presented it to tribal directors in early 2022. The prototype had templates and forms and streamlined the approval process for amendments. We wanted to get more feedback, so we formed a joint tribal director and OCSS workgroup with eight volunteer members in May 2022.
Under regulations, the traditional process for submitting a plan amendment is required for any substantial or material change in the aspect of the program (see TDCL-10-07, TDCL-11-01, IM-22-02). Our workgroup helped us recognize the flexibilities OCSS could offer as a streamlined option for the tribal plan and plan amendment process. Through several workgroup meetings, we finalized an optional streamlined plan and plan amendment process and released it in April 2023. Tribal directors now have an option to remain with the traditional process and submit a plan amendment for any significant change or opt for the streamlined process.
The optional streamlined process identifies four areas that would require a plan amendment. This reduces the number of plan amendments and allows tribes to attest compliance with most tribal child support regulations. As a result, once a tribe chooses to opt for the streamlined process, the OCSS regional program specialist can electronically compile the tribal plan on file to share with the director.
Tribal directors interested in the optional streamlined plan and plan amendment process can reach out to their regional program specialist.
If you have any questions, email ocss.tribal@acf.hhs.gov.
Back to School with Medicaid and CHIP
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
Did you know that children who have health insurance perform better in school (PDF) than their uninsured peers? They’re less likely to miss school, more likely to perform well academically, and can fully participate in extracurricular activities and after-school sports. Children who don’t have health insurance may be eligible for free or low-cost coverage through Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). These programs can help ensure that children receive the routine and preventive health care they need to thrive physically and mentally this school year.
Child support professionals play an important role in connecting children and their families to health care. The Connecting Kids to Coverage National Campaign , an outreach and enrollment effort run by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, offers resources to educate families about coverage options through Medicaid and CHIP. It’s important to remind families already enrolled to take advantage of all the benefits Medicaid and CHIP have to offer, including doctor and dentist visits, immunizations, prescriptions, mental and behavioral health services, and emergency or hospital care. It’s also important to remind families that between April 2023 and April 2024, everyone will need to renew their coverage.
Back-to-School season is a great time to connect with families on these timely topics:
- Enrollment and Renewal: Medicaid and CHIP enrollment is open all year long. Families can get help enrolling or renewing by finding their state Medicaid agency
. For families already enrolled, you can remind them of the following steps to maintain coverage:
- Update your contact information: Make sure your state has your current mailing address, phone number, email, or other contact information. This way, they’ll be able to contact you about your family’s Medicaid or CHIP coverage.
- Check your mail: Your state will mail you a letter about your coverage. This letter will let you know if you need to complete a renewal form to see if you still qualify for Medicaid or CHIP.
- Complete your family’s renewal form (if you get one): Fill out the form and return it to your state right away to avoid a gap in coverage. Your children may still be eligible for Medicaid or CHIP even if you’re not!
- Find other coverage options: If your family no longer qualifies for coverage, find other options at the Healthcare.gov’s Health Insurance Marketplace
.
- Immunizations: Medicaid and CHIP cover all routine childhood immunizations, including the vaccine to protect teens against HPV. You can educate families in your community using resources about the importance, safety, and effectiveness of vaccines
.
- Mental and Behavioral Health: The mental health of kids and teens has become a growing concern. An untreated mental health condition can negatively influence school performance and a child’s future. Medicaid and CHIP cover comprehensive behavioral health services to prevent, diagnose, and treat a broad range of mental health symptoms and disorders. The Campaign has resources to help enroll families and encourage use of the mental and behavioral health benefits included in Medicaid and CHIP coverage.
Social media posts
You can promote Medicaid and CHIP on social media with these posts:
- Help your kids get ready to go back to school with comprehensive health care from #Medicaid and #CHIP. Learn more from @IKNgov: https://bit.ly/3EzbHsg
- Are you taking full advantage of your #Medicaid and #CHIP benefits? Refresh your knowledge of what services are available for your family before the school year starts: https://bit.ly/3EzbHsg
- Have #Medicaid or #CHIP? Check your mail for a renewal form, fill it out, and return it right away to avoid a gap in coverage. Learn more about renewing coverage: https://bit.ly/42zSChY
Medicaid and CHIP provide comprehensive free and low-cost health coverage for kids and teens up to age 19, and some states maintain Medicaid coverage for youth up to age 21. Families can learn more by visiting InsureKidsNow.gov or calling 1-877-KIDS-NOW. When we connect kids to coverage, we can help make this school year the best one yet.
A Logo That Says “No More” to Domestic Violence
Alana M. Babineau, Grant Management Specialist, Lac Courte Oreilles Child Support Program
In September 2022, OCSS awarded Section 1115 grants for the Safe Access for Victims’ Economic Security (SAVES) demonstration to child support programs in 12 states and 1 tribe to support domestic violence survivors who need child support services but are unable to access them. This article is part of a series that features awardees’ efforts to make child support easier to access for domestic violence survivors. For more information, email michael.hayes@acf.hhs.gov or michelle.jadczak@acf.hhs.gov.
Our tribal child support program created the Gaawiin Geyaabi project—which means “no more”—to end domestic violence and promote community-wide healing among the people of Odaawaa-Zaaga'iganiing, the Lac Courte Oreilles (LCO) Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians. In Sawyer County, which surrounds our tribal lands, Native Americans account for about 19% of the population but 42% of the victims of domestic violence and 45% of the suspects. To address this overrepresentation, we’re drawing on the collective insight and practical experience of local partners and people with lived experience of domestic violence and the historical trauma Native Americans have endured. Together, we’re working to create policies, procedures, and program services that are comprehensive, effective, and culturally relevant. We believe we can work together to create a safe, healthy, and supportive community for all.
To represent this important project, we turned to tribal member Myles Standingcloud to design the logo. We worked with Myles to make sure the design captured our mission to raise awareness, prevent domestic violence, and promote community healing. Myles delivered a beautiful and powerful logo that embodies our hope for a violence-free community. The design incorporates purple, recognized worldwide as the color for domestic violence prevention. It’s a reminder that we need to work together to prevent this kind of violence and create a safe and supportive community for everyone. There is a hand in the design that conveys the fundamental idea of Gaawiin Geyaabi, or "no more" in Ojibwemowin. The design also includes a dreamcatcher—a traditional Ojibwe symbol that represents community healing and encourages people of our community to dream of a brighter future free of violence.
This logo is a great start to our program and powerfully conveys our mission to tribal members. Many thanks to Myles for designing the logo. We’re proud to work with such a talented and dedicated member of our tribe. Let’s all unite and say “Gaawiin Geyaabi” to domestic violence in our communities.
To learn more, email alana.babineau@lco-nsn.gov.
Resource Alert: National and Tribal Infographics
The FY 2022 national infographic (PDF) and tribal infographic (PDF) highlight child support collections and other statistics.
Policy Recap
OCSS issued recent guidance to help states and tribes develop and operate their child support programs according to federal laws and regulations:
- Final Rule: Privacy Act; Implementation (07/31/23)
- NPRM - Modifications to Performance Standards During Natural Disasters and Other Calamities: Comments Due September 11, 2023 (07/14/23)
- Open Comment Period — Voluntary Paternity Acknowledgment and Required Data Elements for Paternity Establishment Affidavits (07/05/23)
About Child Support Report
Child Support Report is published monthly by the Office of Child Support Services. We welcome articles and high-quality digital photos to consider for publication. We reserve the right to edit for style, content and length, or not accept an article. OCSS does not endorse the practices or individuals in this newsletter. You may reprint an article in its entirety (or contact the author or editor for permission to excerpt); please identify Child Support Report as the source.
| January Contreras Assistant Secretary for Children and Families | Tanguler Gray Commissioner, OCSS |
| Crystal Peeler Director, Division of Customer Communications | Andrew Phifer Editor, CSR.Editor@acf.hhs.gov |