August is Child Support Month in Michigan

Cassopolis, Michigan, August 9, 2024 – In recognition of the efforts and contributions of child support workers, employers, local prosecutor’s offices, court staff, hospitals, and community partners to the well- being of children and families, Governor Gretchen Whitmer has declared August 2024 as Child Support Month in Michigan.Through partnerships with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) Office of ChildSupport, Friend of the Court offices, prosecuting attorney offices, the State Court Administrative Office, courts,tribes, employers, hospitals, and other community agencies, the Michigan Child Support Program provides services for more than 819,000 children and their families.

The Child Support Enforcement Program was established by Congress in 1975 under Title IV-D of the Social SecurityAct to ensure that parents living apart from their children supported their children. Now, every state, as well as 60 tribes,operates a child support program. The Michigan Child Support Program provides services to parents, grandparents, and guardians for financial support and medical insurance coverage needed for their children. It also assists with locating parents, establishing paternity, opening and managing child support cases, and collecting and disbursing child support payments.

Chief Judge Carol Montavon Bealor and FOC Director/Court Administrator Sarah Mathews note that “we arefortunate in our community that there is so much collaboration to address getting assistance into families’ hands to make children’s lives better; our community has much to be proud of.”

For every dollar spent on the Michigan Child Support Program, $4.92 is collected to provide support to Michigan Children. Highlights for 2023 include:

• The Michigan Office of Child Support is piloting a Child Support Navigation Services program in Calhoun,Genesee, Kent and Wayne counties to provide help through a process that can be complex and confusing. Parents and non-parent caregivers can receive navigation services at any stage, whether they’re thinking about opening a case or if they currently pay or receive child support. Navigation services are free, and participation is voluntary. Services will begin in fall 2024.

• Policy changes related to assisted reproductive technology (ART) were made to remove the requirement of donoranonymity. This policy update also allows waivers when ART is used in conception regardless of whether or not it was in a medical setting.
• County and state child support offices in Michigan provided services for more than 819,000 children and their families.

• More than $1.04 billion was collected and distributed to Michigan families.
• Families who receive cash assistance and child support received $3.5 million directly instead of these funds reimbursing state and federal program costs. Gov. Whitmer created this “pass through” to get more money to families and children.

Additional information about Michigan’s Child Support Program is available online at https://michigan.gov/childsupport.