Child support agencies work on and off the clock

Wisconsin’s county and tribal child support agencies, play an important role in the well-being of over 370,000 children in the state. During the unprecedented times as the state deals with COVID-19, this role has become even more critical, as parents, both custodial and non-custodial, struggle to meet the basic needs of their families.

To help fill the growing need in their communities, child support agencies across the state, are working to expand access to assistive services and finding ways to give back to those who need it most.

Many county and tribal child support agencies (CSA) across the state are modernizing the child support program, by offering a whole-family approach.

“Child support staff understand that every family is unique and needs specialized care to meet their needs,” said Department of Children and Families (DCF) secretary Emilie Amundson. “They can help eliminate barriers to employment or other challenges, help parents forge a meaningful bond with their children, and connect them to services they need to be successful and present in their children’s lives.”

Child support programs and their staff demonstrated that approach this year, to help their communities combat the effects of COVID-19 on family income. During August, which is nationally recognized as Child Support Awareness Month, the DCF and Wisconsin Child Support Enforcement Association (WCSEA), addressed hunger in the communities they serve.

Thanks to their dedication and outreach efforts, they were able to raise more than $3,800 for the five Feeding America Food Banks throughout Wisconsin.

“Wisconsin is fortunate to have such passionate and caring child support agency staff,” said Pamela Pipkin, WCSEA president. “During these challenging times, staff have remained flexible and continued to find new, innovative ways to support families in their communities – both on the clock and off.”

Research shows that non-custodial parents who remain current in providing child support, also have contact with their children and are engaged in daily activities. To help foster increased parental participation in their children’s lives, CSAs are not only working to ensure timely payments, but are also aiding parents in gaining the means to stay involved with their children, financially and emotionally. To discover more about the Wisconsin Child Support Program, visit dcf.wisconsin. gov.