Child Support 101: Table of Contents

Child Support 101 is a compilation of online documents that explain the child support process and services. It is divided into three areas: child support basics, enforcement and family centered services. The first series, Child Support 101, offers information about child support administration and basics. The second series, Child Support 101.2, features a collection of documents explaining the many aspects of and options for enforcement of child support.

Child Support 101 Series

Child Support 101: State Functions

• Child Support 101: Introduction
  • Provides an introduction to the Child Support 101 project
• Child Support 101: Child Support Basics
• Why child support?
• What is child support?
• Who gets child support?
• Child Support 101: State Administration
• Federal Role in Child Support Enforcement
• State Program Structure
• Who gets child support services from the state?
• Types of Child Support Cases
• How much do child support enforcement programs charge for services?
• What are the special requirements for TANF and Medicaid recipients?  
• Child Support 101: Webinar
  • Understand the basics of child support, how it works and how child support affects overall child well-being.

Child Support 101.2: Enforcement

• Child Support 101.2: Locating a Noncustodial Parent
  • What is the process for locating a parent and what are the tools available to states?
• Child Support 101.2: Establishing Paternity
  • What are the federal requirements for state programs?
  • How does the marital status of the parents affect paternity establishment?
  • How can parents legally establish paternity?
  • How can an establishment of paternity be rescinded
  • What happens when more than one state is involved?
• Child Support 101.2: Establishing & Modifying Orders
  • What guidelines models are used?
  • How is income determined?
  • Medical Support
  • Deviations, special circumstances and extraordinary expenses; and
  • Termination of support
• Child Support 101.2: Collecting and Distributing Support
  • Understand the State Disbursement Unit (SDU) required in each state.
  • Learn about how pass-through and disregard policies are effecting not only the distribution of child support, but also the collection of child support.
• Child Support 101.2: Enforcing Child Support Orders
  • Information about the many methods of enforcement, including income withholding, license suspension and passport denial.
• Child Support 101.2: Enforcement Monitoring
  • How do states monitor cases, through a caseworker or through new technology designed for child support enforcement.

About This NCSL Project

NCSL staff in D.C. and Denver can provide comprehensive, thorough, and timely information on critical child support policy issues. We provide services to legislators and staff working to improve state policies affecting children and their families. NCSL's online clearinghouse for state legislators includes resources on child support policy, financing, laws, research and promising practices. Technical assistance visits to states are available to any state legislature that would like training or assistance related to this topic.

The Denver-based child support project staff focuses on state policy, tracking legislation and providing research and policy analysis, consultation, and technical assistance specifically geared to the legislative audience. Denver staff can be reached at (303) 364-7700 or cyf-info@ncsl.org.

NCSL staff in Washington, D.C. track and analyze federal legislation and policy and represent state legislatures on child support issues before Congress and the Administration. Staff in D.C. can be reached at (202) 624-5400 or cyf-info@ncsl.org.

The child support project and D.C. human services staff receive guidance and support from NCSL's Standing Committee on Health & Human Services.

For more information regarding NCSL's child support work, please visit our Child Support Homepage.