Chirps

5/22/2012
African Americans and the ACA

New data on the Affordable Care Act suggests that 3.8 million uninsured African Americans will gain coverage by 2016. Find the facts on the ASPE Brief: The Affordable Care Act and African Americans.
5/18/2012
49 states have anti-bullying laws

South Dakota was the 49th state to implement an anti-bullying law. Find more on cyber-bullying, techniques to prevent bullying, who’s at risk, and how to get help at www.stopbullying.gov.
5/16/2012
60% of children exposed to violence

A national survey of children 17 and under revealed that 60% were exposed to violence, either directly or indirectly, during the past year. More than 20% had been bullied during their lifetime.
5/10/2012
EEOC updates enforcement guidance

In a historic vote on April 25, the EEOC updated its enforcement guidance on employer use of arrest and conviction records in employment decisions under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. This new guidance provides an important tool to educate employers and job seekers on appropriate use of criminal records in employment decisions.
5/7/2012
Teen birth rates reach historic lows

A CDC report says teen birth rates in 2010 were the lowest in 70 years for all ages and ethnic groups—dropping 9% in one year.
5/2/2012
May 2 recognizes teens and prevention

May 2 is the National Day to Prevent Teen Pregnancy to draw teens’ attention to avoiding early parenthood through an interactive online quiz and game. A new OCSE fact sheet and an upcoming Child Support Report article share ways the child support program is helping to educate youth about parental responsibilities.
4/30/2012
Response to domestic violence in Indian Country

A 2008 CDC survey found that 39% of Native American women had been victims of intimate partner violence—a rate higher than any other race or ethnic group. Learn how some addressed the problem in the HHS-funded “Building Domestic Violence Health Care Responses in Indian Country: A Promising Practices Report.”
4/25/2012
New judicial bench card on IWO and SDU

A bench card on the OCSE website explains the requirements to use the OMB-approved income withholding order form and to send employer-withheld child support payments to the State Disbursement Unit.
4/23/2012
Conference call on health disparities and the ACA

April is National Minority Health Month. Join us for a conference call on April 25 at 2 p.m. ET to learn about Health Disparities and the Affordable Care Act: Creating Healthier Communities and Congregations. Call-in information will be sent to registrants 24 hours in advance of the call. To register, submit your email address.
4/19/2012
Meeting survivors’ needs

Economic needs were among the highest ranked services or supports requested by domestic violence survivors, according to a multistate study out of the National Resource Center on Domestic Violence.
4/12/2012
Domestic violence resource for courts

The OCSE website offers resources for judicial officers on child support-related topics, including the new bench card on Domestic Violence and Child Support.
4/10/2012
Guide for domestic violence trainers

The OCSE website offers a guide for trainers who use OCSE material to help child support agencies identify and address domestic violence issues and help their customers safely pursue child support.
4/5/2012
Minority Health Month

April is Minority Health Month, and this year’s theme is: Health Equity Can’t Wait. Act in your CommUNITY! Find events in your area and register your own event on the Office of Minority Health website.
4/3/2012
HUD Initiative

Each year, half a million people are released from prisons and 7 million released from jails. About 55 percent of these are parents. Now HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan is encouraging multifamily housing owners to develop policies and procedures that allow formerly incarcerated individuals to rejoin their families in HUD-assisted housing while maintaining safety for residents.
3/30/2012
Women’s poverty rates by ethnicity

In 2010, poverty rates for women in all racial and ethnic groups were higher than white, non-Hispanic men, says a report by the National Women’s Law Center. Poverty rates were highest among black (25.6 percent), Hispanic (25.0 percent), and Native American (26.4 percent) women.
3/26/2012
National Transitional Jobs Network

The National Transitional Jobs Network offers tools and information to help states build a Transitional Jobs program. Thirty states on the map operate programs, which secure employment and offer job training opportunities for hard-to employ individuals, noncustodial parents, ex-offenders and others.
3/23/2012
Women’s History Month – Frances Perkins

Frances Perkins was the first woman to serve in a presidential cabinet, as secretary of labor for Franklin Delano Roosevelt (and the longest-sitting secretary of labor in U.S. history). She led positive changes for women and society, as chairwoman of the President’s Committee on Economic Security that resulted in the Social Security Act of 1935, and as a key writer of New Deal legislation, including minimum wage laws. Learn more on the SSA website.
3/21/2012
Women and the Affordable Care Act

Women can be charged 150% more than men for individual health insurance, simply based on gender. In 2014, this will no longer be allowed under the Affordable Care Act. The law protects women by providing insurance options, covering preventive services, and lowering costs. Learn more about women and the ACA at HealthCare.gov.
3/19/2012
Women still earn less than men

Census Bureau data show that, on average, a female worker still makes only 77 cents for each dollar earned by a comparable male worker, according to an analysis by the National Women’s Law Center. See the ranking of median earnings on the NWLC website.
3/15/2012
Women living in poverty

An analysis of 2010 Census data by the National Women’s Law Center reports 17.2 million women—and 4 in 10 women who head families—lived in poverty. The poverty rate among women climbed from 13.9 percent in 2009 to 14.5 percent in 2010, the highest rate in 17 years.
3/12/2012
SSA implements e-IWO

In 2011, states collected $809 million from IWOs issued to SSA. Since SSA implemented its e-IWO (electronic income withholding order) process in August 2011, the first three states phased in have issued more than 8,300 orders to SSA.
3/8/2012
International Women's Day

March 8 is International Women's Day, first observed in 1909. In 1981, Congress set the second week of March as National Women's History Week. In 1987, the week expanded to a month. Every year since, the President has issued a proclamation for Women's History Month. Visit womenshistorymonth.gov.
3/7/2012
New Forecast for Competitive Grant

OCSE issued a third forecast for a competitive grant program, Evaluation of National Child Support Noncustodial Parent Employment Demonstration Projects. The other two are National Child Support Noncustodial Parent Employment Demonstration Projects and Parenting Time Opportunities for Children in the Child Support Program. We plan to invite applicants for the new awards this fiscal year.
3/5/2012
What Women Earn

The median annual earnings in 2010 for women 15 or older who worked year-round, full time was $36,931, unchanged from 2009. (From Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2010.) See data briefs about women on Census.gov in honor of National Women's History Month.
2/24/2012
State Innovations—New on OCSE Website

At least 29 states and D.C. operate mostly local work-oriented programs for noncustodial parents. Three new resources describe these work-oriented programs and two other innovative practices in child support agencies across the country—debt compromise policies and programs to ensure child support orders reflect current earnings.
2/21/2012
FPLS Debt Inquiry Service

The Debt Inquiry Service lets employers report lump-sum and bonus payments through the FPLS Portal to states. From national companies to local “mom and pop” stores, employers are getting on board. Ten employers and 19 states participate. To learn more, contact Erica Holliman.
2/17/2012
Young Adults Find Economy Tough

A new Pew Research Center survey finds that young adults (ages 18 to 34) say the slow economy has affected decisions about career, marriage, parenthood and schooling. For example, nearly half (49%) have taken a job in the past few years that they didn't really want just to pay the bills; 24% moved back in with their parents; 22% postponed having children; and 20% postponed getting married. At the same time, they maintain long-term optimism.
2/13/2012
EFT Collections Increase

Child support collections through Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) in 2011 reached an average 56% nationwide—a 4% increase over the previous year. States that require EFT and offer free or low-cost online services to employers saw a greater increase than others.
2/8/2012
New OCSE Website

We launched the first phase of our new OCSE website as part of an Administration for Children and Families initiative. We hope you will find it easier to read and navigate, as well as more engaging with videos, slides and links to media that will help you stay connected to what's happening in the program. We plan to redesign the entire old website in several phases during the year—and launch a function that lets you search, browse and sort resources on the website.
2/8/2012
FY 2009 Annual Report

The FY 2009 Annual Report to Congress is now on the OCSE website. Child support collections decreased to $26.4 billion from $26.6 billion in FY 2008. Statistics in the FY 2010 Preliminary Report show the trend is up again, with collections at $26.6 billion, a 0.6 percent increase.
2/6/2012
Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month

February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month. One in 5 women and nearly 1 in 7 men who ever experienced rape, physical violence, and/or stalking by an intimate partner, first experienced relationship violence between age 11 and 17. Check out the ACF National Clearinghouse on Families & Youth.
2/1/2012
Young Fathers and Incarceration

Data from National Center for Family and Marriage Research finds that 20% of young fathers report being incarcerated by age 25 compared to only 6% of young men without children.
1/30/2012
Homeless Female Veterans

The number of female veterans who are homeless more than doubled between 2006 and 2010, to 3,300, according to estimates in a recent GAO report. Many of the women live with their minor children. The report recommends more detailed data collection and improved housing services.
1/20/2012
Health and Safety Outcomes of Children

About 23.8 million children were living with one parent in 2009. The percent of children living with one parent ranged from a low of 18% in Utah to a high of 48% in Mississippi. Learn about health and safety outcomes of children, with state rankings and family stories, in 2011 Kids Count Data Book, published by the Annie E. Casey Foundation.
1/13/2012
Forecast for Grants

Today OCSE issued forecasts for two competitive grant programs, the National Child Support Noncustodial Parent Employment Demonstration Project and Parenting Time Opportunities for Children in the Child Support Program. We plan to invite applicants for new awards this fiscal year.
1/11/2012
EITC Time

EITC Awareness Day is Jan. 27. The child support program is again promoting the IRS Earned Income Tax Credit to low-and middle-income working parents. Custodial parents particularly can benefit from EITC, one of the largest antipoverty programs. Last year, 26 million people received $59 billion. Four of five eligible people claim it.
12/22/2011
Survey on Intimate Partner Violence

On average, 24 people per minute are victims of rape, physical violence or stalking by an intimate partner in the United States, according to results from a 2010 survey by CDC's National Center for Injury Prevention and Control.
12/19/2011
Foster Teens and Pregnancy

Teens in foster care have a higher rate of teen pregnancy and childbearing than the national sample of teenagers, according to an analysis by Child Trends. The states surveyed were Illinois, Iowa and Wisconsin.
12/15/2011
Record Low for Marriages

Barely half of all adults in the U.S.—a record low—are married, and the median age at first marriage has never been higher for brides (26.5 years) and grooms (28.7), reports a new PEW Research Center analysis of U.S. Census data. The number of new marriages in the U.S. declined by 5% between 2009 and 2010, a sharp one-year drop that may or may not be related to the economy.
12/13/2011
Second Chance Grant Announcement

The Bureau of Justice Assistance, U.S. Department of Justice, is accepting applications—by March 2, 2012—for the Second Chance Act Technology Careers Training Demonstration Projects for Incarcerated Adults and Juveniles. States, local government, territories and tribes can apply for funds for programs to train individuals in prisons, jails or juvenile residential facilities for technology-based jobs and careers during the three-year period before their release. See details.
12/9/2011
Health Insurance and Poverty

According to recently released Census Bureau figures, 15.4 percent of poor children were without health care coverage in 2010.
12/7/2011
Welcoming Home Military Parents

This month, we welcome home returning military service members from Iraq and Afghanistan. Many are fathers and mothers helping to raise their children, and some face unique challenges in their child support cases. A new section on the OCSE website—Working with our Military and Veteran Parents—gives links to several fact sheets and other resources for military and veteran service members and families.
12/1/2011
More People Live in Poverty

Recent Census Bureau figures show that the number of poor people in 2010 (46.2 million) is the largest number in 52 years for which poverty estimates have been published.
11/28/2011
Fewer Poor Children in Married Families

The recent Census Bureau publication “Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2010” reports that among children under age 6 in female-headed households, 58.2 percent were poor in 2010, about four times the percentage of children of the same age in married-couple families.
11/14/2011
New Poverty Measure

The Census Bureau just released a report using a new, more comprehensive poverty measure that supplements the official measure developed in the 1960's by Mollie Orshansky. The new alternative measure takes into account public assistance receipt, expenses, and geographic region. The Census Bureau found that 18.2 percent of children under 18 years old are living in poverty under the alternative measure, lower than the official rate of 22.5 percent.
11/10/2011
More OCSE Fact Sheets on Veterans

To commemorate Veterans Day, we issued two new fact sheets: one on military services and child support partnerships and another on the child support collaboration for homeless veterans with the Department of Veterans Affairs and the American Bar Association. These complement our recent fact sheet on veterans in the child support caseload.

Please read the three fact sheets as we welcome home military service members from Iraq and Afghanistan, and thank all veterans for their sacrifices on behalf of our country.
11/9/2011
New OCSE Fact Sheet on Veterans

About half of the states have more than 10,000 veterans in their child support caseload. See the first fact sheet in a series called the Story Behind the Numbers to learn about veterans in the child support caseload. We issued a Story Behind the Numbers series several years ago; the new series also will offer data analyses to help us better understand child support issues.

Stay tuned for two additional fact sheets on veterans and military projects in the child support program, coming shortly!
11/7/2011
Create Demographic Tables

The National Center for Children and Poverty (Columbia University) offers an online tool to create custom state and national tables about low-income or poor children. Choose areas of interest, such as parental education or employment, marital status, and race or ethnicity. The Demographics Wizard may be helpful for your presentations related to poverty, economic stability, and family structure.
11/2/2011
Tax Info for Prisoner Reentry Programs

The IRS offers a free training package of tax information that organizations can use in prisoner reentry programs. The package includes a training video, facilitator's guide and participant brochure (in English and Spanish).
10/24/2011
Recession's Ripple Effects

Census Bureau data shows that only 11.9% of Americans relocated between 2007 and 2008—the lowest rate since tracking began in the 1940s according to the Brookings Institution. In particular, long-distance moves declined. Although slow economic growth and high unemployment challenge us, fewer long-distance moves could make both child support enforcement and access and visitation arrangements easier on families.
10/17/2011
HHS Tweets in Spanish

HHS launched a Spanish twitter account—@HHSLatino—to improve efforts to reach the Latino community. (See the White House announcement.) The twitter posts will highlight ongoing HHS activities important for Latino families.
10/13/2011
Data on Birth Rates

According to preliminary 2009 data from the National Center for Health Statistics, the birth rate for unmarried women declined almost 4 percent in 2009 compared to 2008. (The number of births to unmarried women fell 2 percent, the first decline since 1996-1997.) Birth rates for women in their early 20s fell, the largest decline for this age group since 1973. Teen birth rates reached historic lows. Rates fell significantly for all race and Hispanic origin groups. However, the proportion of all births to unmarried women increased.
09/23/2011
New Resources Concerning Teens

Two new resources from The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy are available: the Latino Resource Center and information based on a survey, Under Pressure: What African-American Teens Aren't Telling You About Sex, Love, and Relationships. See OCSE's related fact sheet on preventing the need for child support.
09/14/2011
Poverty Rates - New Census Data

The U.S. Census Bureau announced this week that in 2010, median household income declined 2.3 percent from 2009; the nation's poverty rate was 15.1 percent, the highest level since 1993. The poverty rate for children increased to 22 percent in 2010. See details in the news release.
09/13/2011
How Long Do Marriages Last?

A new Census Bureau report titled Marital Events of Americans: 2009 looks at marriage, divorce and widowhood in America. It's the first of its kind to describe the detailed characteristics of marital events using the American Community Survey, according to the Census Bureau blog posted on Aug. 25, 2011.
09/8/2011
Visualizing Income and Poverty Estimates

Recently the U.S. Census Bureau added interactive maps to the Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates program's (SAIPE) website. You can select, map, and display estimates of poverty by state, county and school district, and median household income by state and county. Learn more in the blog posted on Aug. 26, 2011 at http://blogs.census.gov/.
08/30/2011
Grants to Enroll Children in Health Coverage

HHS has $40 million in grants available to enroll eligible children in Medicaid and CHIP. As a result of the economic downturn, more children became eligible for Medicaid and CHIP; due to outreach efforts, the number of children eligible but not enrolled in these programs significantly dropped. See the OCSE Health Coverage Bubble Chart Fact Sheet to learn how the child support program is connecting kids to coverage!
08/22/2011
PRWORA's 15^th Anniversary

Today is the anniversary of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act. President Clinton signed PRWORA into law on August 22, 1996, paving the way for the modern child support program.
08/5/2011
New Apps on State Services Portal

Three new applications are available on the State Services Portal - FPLS Locate, DOD Entitlement Records and Debt Inquiry Service. Twelve states are on board with the new "apps". Will your state be next? You'll learn more about this tool in the August Child Support Report! For more information, contact the End User Support Team at 800-258-2736 or CSENet.2000@lmco.com.
07/19/11
Parents' Day is July 24

July 24th is Parents' Day! In 1994, President Clinton signed into law a resolution establishing the fourth Sunday in July as Parents' Day. Parents' Day promotes recognizing, uplifting, and supporting the role of parents in bringing up their children.
07/12/11
Public Costs of Teen Childbearing

Although the number of births to teen mothers declined between 2007 and 2008, for the second year in a row, teen childbearing cost taxpayers at least $10.9 billion in 2008. The national and state estimates include costs associated with child welfare, criminal justice, public health and public assistance, as well as lost tax revenue. For more information, visit: http://www.thenationalcampaign.org/costs/
07/05/11
Funding Available for OFA Grants

State and local governments and specified nonprofits, as well as American Indian and Native American tribal governments and organizations, may now apply for Responsible Fatherhood and Healthy Marriage discretionary grants funded by the ACF Office of Family Assistance. Applicants are encouraged to partner with child support agencies. Applications are due July 28.
06/29/11
Insurance Match Program Update

In the last year, 24 of the states participating in OCSE’s Insurance Match program collected a combined $6 million for families - a 220% increase. 544 insurance companies now participate.
06/27/11
Programs for Low-Income Fathers

The ACF Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation recently released a report by Mathematica Policy Research titled “Catalog of Research: Programs for Low-Income Fathers.” The report presents findings from a systematic review of impact, implementation, and descriptive studies of programs serving low-income fathers.
06/22/11
Domestic Violence Contact Info Now in IRG

The online Intergovernmental Referral Guide now includes up-to-date addresses and telephone numbers for domestic violence coalitions in each state. The info may be useful for child support program workers who have customers with possible issues involving domestic violence. For more information, contact Ella Wood.
06/17/11
Bubble Chart Fact Sheet Series Kick-off

We just launched OCSE’s Promoting Child Well-Being and Family Self-Sufficiency Fact Sheet Series! A fact sheet for each bubble in the “bubble chart” describes program innovations in that area and highlights state examples. Keep an eye on this series for promising practices, new research, and other useful information. And let us know what you think.
06/10/11
VETS Grant Opportunities

DOL/Veteran’s Employment and Training Service announced that funding is available through the Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program. Grant applicants will design programs that expedite the reintegration of eligible homeless veterans into the labor force by providing job placement services, job training, counseling, supportive services, and other assistance. Visit DOL’s website for more information.
06/08/11
New Guide for Community Organizations

HHS and the White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships launched Partnerships for the Common Good, a guide for faith-based and community organizations. It provides opportunities to form partnerships across government and covers issues on housing, job creation, supporting healthy children and families, and responsible fatherhood.
06/03/11
Child Support “Mythbusters”

The National Reentry Resource Center has 13 “mythbusters,” including one on child support: MYTH: Noncustodial parents who are incarcerated cannot have their child support orders reduced. FACT: Half of all states have processes to reduce child support orders during incarceration; three-quarters have laws that permit incarcerated parents to obtain a reduced or suspended order. See the mythbusters on the Center’s website.
05/31/11
Employers to Report Date of Hire

Effective June 8, the Claims Resolution Act will require employers to report each new employee’s date of hire to the State Directory of New Hires. See more information on the OCSE website.
05/19/11
Record SSA Collections

Child support collections from Social Security garnishments reached a record $68.4 million in April. States get a jump on these collections when they automate income withholding notices to SSA after receiving notifications of pending or current claims from the FPLS. Congratulations to the states for reaping vast benefits for families!
05/16/11
Join the President’s Fatherhood and Mentoring Initiative

You can join the President’s Fatherhood and Mentoring Initiative at www.fatherhood.gov/initiative. The goal is to encourage individuals, especially fathers, to be positive role models and mentors not only for their own children but for all the children in their lives and communities. Fathers, mothers, and all role models are invited to participate!
05/12/11
Teen Pregnancy Rates Down

Nationally, the number of births to teen mothers (age 15-19) declined for a second year in a row after a brief increase in 2007. A new Child Trends analysis shows that between 2007 and 2008, the teen birth rate decreased in 28 states, increased in 9 states, and remained the same in 13 states.
05/10/11
Building Assets for Fathers and Families

The Building Assets for Fathers and Families (BAFF) initiative is a collaboration of the ACF Office of Community Services and OCSE to improve the economic stability of children and families in the child support program. BAFF is part of the larger ASSET Initiative across ACF to bring the benefits of asset building to more low-income individuals and families. To learn more: http://www.idaresources.org/
05/04/11
Four New OCSE Grant Opportunities

OCSE announced three Section 1115 and one Special Improvement Project (SIP) grant funding opportunities on grants.gov (type OCSE in the keyword search). Two will develop partnerships (with universities and the workforce community); the third responds to the economic downturn; the fourth tests a data warehouse model. Section 1115 grant applications are due by June 27; the SIP grant by June 29. (None require applicant matching funds.)
05/02/11
National Day to Prevent Teen Pregnancy

May 4 is the tenth annual National Day to Prevent Teen Pregnancy, which stresses the importance of preventing teen pregnancy and challenges teens to think before they act “in the moment.” Information, resources, and ideas to promote the day are available on the National Campaign’s website. You can also download the National Day brochure.
04/28/11
Public Service Recognition Week

May 1-7 is Public Service Recognition Week. Fifty years ago, President John F. Kennedy said, “Let the public service be a proud and lively career. And let every man and woman who works in any area of our national government, in any branch, at any level, be able to say with pride and with honor in future years: ‘I served the United States Government in that hour of our nation’s need.’” I thank all of you in our federal, state, and local government offices for your daily hard work in the child support program.
04/06/11
Alaska Permanent Fund

Alaska Permanent Fund has benefited Alaskans for generations. Several states have found this fund to be a resource for collecting past-due child support. The states send a list of individuals to the Alaska child support agency to perform a match against the fund. Cases must be submitted by June 1 of each year for the money to be intercepted. For information about the data match, contact Lisa Taylor.
03/29/11
Now 41 Comprehensive Tribal Programs

Three new comprehensive tribal child support programs have been added so far this year, bringing the total to 41. The newest programs are from the Suquamish Tribe in Washington, and the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe and Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe, both in Minnesota.
03/24/11
Don’t Forget EITC Refunds

The Earned Income Tax Credit can help workers in your state keep more of their earnings. For tax year 2009, more than 26 million people received EITC, lifting 6.6 million people out of poverty according to IRS estimates. For 2010, the maximum credit amount is $5,666. See the OCSE website or the EITC Toolkit.
03/21/11
Resources for DOL Transitional Jobs Grant Applicants

The U.S. Department of Labor recently announced $40 million in grant funds to provide enhanced transitional jobs programs to non-custodial parents or ex-offenders reentering their communities. The National Transitional Jobs Network offers online resources for those interested in applying for a grant. See www.heartlandalliance.org/ntjn/
03/15/11
Could You Handle Unemployment?

Although numbers improved slightly in January, nearly 14 million Americans are unemployed. See if you could make it through the month with limited funds at http://playspent.org/, a game sponsored by SPENT, a nonprofit initiative that uses social networking to engage, educate and inspire people to think about poverty and homelessness.
03/10/11
E-Payments are a Big Part of Collections

In 2010, electronic payments accounted for 52.9 percent of states’ collections from employers, payroll service providers, unemployment insurance, workers’ compensation, interstate cases, and noncustodial parents paying online.
03/07/11
Tour Healthcare.gov on March 10

The Affordable Care Act is helping to expand access to health care for millions of Americans. We can play an important role in connecting vulnerable and hard-to-reach populations to quality, affordable health care. Join the HHS Partnership Center for a virtual tour of HealthCare.gov, Thursday, March 10, at 4:00 p.m. Eastern. Call 888-323-9813 (no passcode/RSVP needed).
03/01/11
Spanish Website about Health Coverage

CuidadoDeSalud.gov is the first website in Spanish to provide consumers with both public and private health coverage options tailored specifically for their needs in a single, easy-to-use tool. Want a tour? Join the conference call on March 3 at 4 p.m. EST, 888-323-9813 (no passcode needed).
02/24/11
Incarceration’s Effect on Economic Mobility

About 1 percent of the adult population is behind bars in the United States. Some of the top challenges for many reentering offenders are financial obligations such as child support and court-related fees. Learn more in a report from Pew Charitable Trusts: “Collateral Costs: Incarceration’s Effect on Economic Mobility”
02/22/11
FPLS Goes Green with Online Reports

State and regional offices now can access semi-annual FPLS State Profile reports and monthly New Hire (W-4) reports online, rather than receive paper reports in the mail. Contact ella.wood@acf.hhs.gov for information.
02/15/11
Homeless Veterans Have Our Attention

About one-third of the adult homeless population in the United States is veterans. The Department of Veterans Affairs estimates that 107,000 veterans are homeless on any given night. Learn more on the VA’s website for the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans. Stay tuned to updates on OCSE’s collaboration with the VA and American Bar Association to end homelessness, and other projects that reach out to veterans.
02/11/11
text4baby Turns One

A happy and healthy public-private partnership is celebrating its first birthday this month. text4baby is a free text-messaging service that delivers timely health information during pregnancy and throughout a baby’s first year. Women can sign up for the service by texting BABY (or BEBE for Spanish) to 511411. Read about its success at whitehouse.gov.
02/03/11
New Web Apps: Federal Offset and Passport Denial

Federal Offset and Passport Denial are the newest web applications available through the State Services Portal. These applications, along with Query Interstate Cases for Kids (QUICK), provide near real-time access to case information via the portal. To learn about web applications, contact the End User Support Team at 800-258-2736 or csenet.2000@lmco.com
01/28/11
FPLS: TSP Matches on the Way

The FPLS will begin matching in February against the federal Thrift Savings Plan, one of the largest 401(k)-like plans in the nation. No additional programming is required by the states to accept these matches. They will be returned the same way as MSFIDM responses. For more information, please contact Matt Marsolais.
01/25/11
Promote Those Tax Credits

During tax season, every one of us can be a messenger about the Earned Income Tax Credit and other credits like the Child Tax Credit. These refundable tax credits put much needed income into the hands of working parents and families. Find more information on the expanded Tax Credit Outreach Campaign website at www.eitcoutreach.org or visit http://www.eitc.irs.gov/central/main/ to see if you or someone you know may be eligible.
01/21/11
EITC Awareness Day

January 28 will mark the fifth annual EITC Awareness Day. Earned Income Tax Credit is a federal tax credit for low and middle-income workers. Last year more than 25 million people received nearly $58 billion in EITC. Learn more about EITC on the OCSE website.
01/14/11
New Hires Increase 2 Percent in FY 2010

After two years of steady decline in new hires reported to the National Directory of New Hires, FY 2010 showed a 2-percent increase. This translates to 830,000 more new hires reported in FY 2010 than in FY 2009. And in the first quarter of FY 2011, new hires are up 4 percent over the first quarter of FY 2010. Let’s hope this trend continues as an indicator for better times.
07/10/10
35th Anniversary of Child Support Program

July 1, 2010, marks the 35th anniversary of the national child support program. Public Law 93-647, signed by President Ford on January 4, 1975, and effective July 1, established Part D of Title IV of the Social Security Act. The program has shifted from a welfare cost recovery to a family support program. Our goal is to ensure steady support of children throughout their childhood. We have the opportunity to help a generation of children if we can help their parents stabilize their lives and build stronger families.