State and local child support agencies implement policies to establish fatherhood, set realistic orders, collect payments, and reduce child support debt. These child support programs also develop innovative strategies to improve the well-being of children.
Each state and tribe manages cases and operates its child support program based on individual state, tribal, and federal regulations.
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Our partnerships work
We partner with states, tribes, and others to help serve families and promote parental responsibility.
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Contact information
Get contact information for your state, local, or tribal child support office.
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Intergovernmental Reference Guide
View state and tribal child support policies and profiles
Program Management
Effective program management helps child support agencies meet federal requirements, maintain strong operations, and support continuous improvement. These resources cover key administrative responsibilities, including reporting, managing the state plan, and training staff to carry out the program effectively.
Required Reporting
State agencies complete the OCSE-157 to report statistical and some financial information for their child support program to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). This information helps the HHS Secretary comply with sections 409, 452(a) and (g), 458, and 469 of the Social Security Act. The Act requires the Secretary to establish standards for an effective child support program, establish minimum organization and staffing requirements, and make an Annual Report to the Congress on program activities.
Information submitted by states also helps HHS compute individual state incentive, penalty, and outcome measures to be used in evaluating state performance in running a child support program. The authority to collect this information is also set forth in regulations at 45 CFR 302.15(a).
These instructions provide guidance on how to complete the OCSE-157.
Additional Guidance
State agencies are required to complete and submit the OCSE-396 in accordance with instructions. States must submit the quarterly expenditure report no later than 45 days after the end of each fiscal quarter.
OCSE-396 Expenditure Report Overview. Webinar for state agencies provides an overview of the OCSE-396 form and how it relates to the Notice of Grant Award.
State agencies are required to complete and submit the OCSE-34 quarterly report in accordance with instructions.
States must submit each quarterly collection report in conjunction with the quarterly expenditure report no later than 45 days after the end of the fiscal quarter.
Managing the State Plan
Form OCSE-21-U4 accompanies the State Plan Pre-Print Page and is submitted to the appropriate ACF Regional Office.
The State Plan consists of the preprinted State Plan pages and any related attachments and contains all information necessary for OCSE to determine whether a State Plan can be approved.
The online State Plan System maintains an electronic version of the approved state plan preprint pages submitted by states.
- IV-D State Plan: Amendment Submission and Review Process
- IV-D State Plan Automated System Training
- AT-15-02: Procedures and Manual for Automated State Plan Review and Submission
Case Management
Some child support cases involve circumstances that require additional consideration, coordination, or tailored approaches. These resources help child support professionals respond effectively to the unique needs and situations of parents and families.
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Intergovernmental
Get more information about working a case with another state, tribe, territory, or country to locate a parent, establish parentage, establish or modify a support order, enforce an order, or collect and distribute support payments.
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Domestic Violence
For many victims of domestic violence, child support offers financial independence from an abusive partner. At the same time research shows that the birth of a child, establishing paternity and a child support order, and enforcing the order can be triggers for violence.
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Military & Veterans
Military families face unique challenges because of deployments or other lengthy separations. State child support programs help by responding quickly to the changing circumstances of both parents so that support orders remain reasonable and fair.
Programs & Initiatives
Child support programs can do more than establish and enforce support orders. These resources highlight initiatives that help parents overcome barriers, strengthen their ability to support their children, and promote positive outcomes for families.
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Knowledge Works!
We believe the option to implement noncustodial parent employment services is a good strategy to increase participation in the workforce, improve compliance with court-ordered child support payments, and provide low-income Americans with a path out of poverty to financial self-sufficiency.
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Responsible Fatherhood
Effective collaboration between child support and responsible fatherhood programs is essential in promoting child well-being and better child support outcomes. Child support programs are uniquely positioned to serve fathers because caseworkers have direct contact with noncustodial fathers and can connect them to responsible fatherhood-related programs and services.
Partnerships
Strong partnerships can help child support programs serve families more effectively. These resources support collaboration with employers, agencies, institutions, and other organizations that play an important role in the child support process.
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Employer Outreach
Employers are major partners with the child support program and withhold the largest portion of support collections each year. Outreach is important to educate employers about program responsibilities.
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Incarcerated Groups/ Reentry
Child support programs work with our partners to help parents who are incarcerated or returning to their communities. Fundamental fairness and access to justice are critical to effective child support enforcement. Child support is a legal obligation. When child support procedures are clear, realistic, and fair, parents are more likely to make reliable support payments that their children can count on.
Additional Resources
Provides child support directors important information about child support program requirements
View the webinar recording for state agencies that provides an overview of the Notice of Grant Award, Terms and Conditions, and award computation.