By Meghan McCann
While child support agencies recognize that domestic violence is an everyday concern, many see Domestic Violence Awareness Month as a time to review existing domestic violence policies and explore ways to improve safe access to child support services for domestic violence victims.
The federal Office of Child Support Enforcement is co-hosting a webinar Oct. 15 with the Family and Youth Services Bureau/Family Violence and Prevention Service program to share resources that enhance families’ safe access to child support services. Participants will also learn about an exciting new Domestic Violence and Child Support Liaisons Network.
State and local child support programs, state domestic violence coalitions, advocates from domestic violence programs, and stakeholders with an interest in building collaborations between the two fields are invited to attend.
Click here to register for this important webinar.
Research shows that 90 percent of women in current or former abusive relationships would pursue child support if they felt they could do so safely. In addition, one of the reasons victims stay in an abusive relationship is because of a lack of financial resources to support themselves and their children.
The core purpose of the child support program, ensuring families receive consistent and reliable support, is ideally aligned to promote victims’ ability to safely leave violent relationships and establish safe, independent living situations for themselves and their children.
When victims do not know what protections are available to them in the child support process, victims go without critical financial support.
Further, the child support program works with both custodial and noncustodial parents, they are in a unique position to address issues of domestic violence and the safe setting and enforcement of child support orders.
The federal Office of Child Support Enforcement (OCSE) has various resources addressing family violence in the child support caseload including tools for judges and caseworkers on how to identify and address domestic violence concerns. In addition, OCSE’s Family Violence Collaboration fact sheet looks at programs across the country that promote the collaboration between domestic violence and child support programs.
Meghan McCann is a policy specialist with the National Conference of State Legislatures’ Children and Families Program. She works on child support and family law issues.
Email Meghan