In September 2022, OCSS awarded the Safe Access for Victims’ Economic Security (SAVES) grant funds to 13 demonstration sites to implement a variety of policies and practices aimed at increasing safety and fair access for domestic violence survivors in the child support system, including staff training, enhanced screening, case modifications, data system improvements, and triage teams. These SAVES demonstration sites are engaging with domestic violence partners and survivors to ensure their efforts to change the system are survivor-centric, address inequities and systemic barriers, and increase survivor confidence in the child support system.
OCSS also funded the SAVES Center to provide research, training, technical assistance, policy direction, and collaboration guidance to increase safe access to services. As a national resource center, the SAVES Center supports the vision of OCSS to ensure that every survivor who wants or needs child support and parenting time services receives those services from a trauma-informed and culturally responsive child support program.
For more information, contact the Division of Program Innovation at OCSS.DPI@acf.hhs.gov.
Disclaimers:
The products on this page are not OCSS publications. They were produced by SAVES grant recipients or their contractors. The products are in the public domain. Permission to reproduce is not necessary.
The views expressed in these publications do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of OCSS, the Administration for Children and Families, or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Colorado’s Division of Child Support Services (DCSS) will leverage the child support program’s existing partnerships with its judicial partners and DV service providers to enhance child support services for survivors of DV by becoming a more trauma-responsive and family-centered service. The project will focus on outreach and cross-system collaboration, scanning and mapping of existing practices and barriers (screening, determination, confidentiality), policy development, and technology enhancements to ensure statewide implementation of safe access to child support for survivors. This project will support the DCSS ongoing shift from enforcement to a holistic supportive service for the whole family. In addition, the project will equip child support staff with skills needed to understand the needs and barriers faced by DV survivors, safe access practices, and provide tools for staff to address their own vicarious trauma to avoid burnout.
Contact: Lisa Sage-Lowe | 303-880-6035 | lisa.sage-lowe@state.co.us
Through Safety with SAVES, Georgia will implement policies, procedures, and program services to help increase safety for domestic violence survivors receiving child support and those who want to apply. The program will be part of the Family Justice Centers being built throughout the state to provide all needed services to survivors in one location. The Department of Community Supervision, Georgia Commission on Family Violence will help train providers on how to safely provide and expedite services to survivors through the child support and court systems.
Georgia Division of Child Support Services will provide domestic violence training to all staff and create a website link that can be used as a quick reference to assist those in need. The website will have contact information for direct providers and audio information for individuals with limited English proficiency and sensory impairment. A safe exit button will allow survivors to leave the site quickly and will redirect them to an unrelated website.
Contact: Ineabel Santiago | 470-304-9853 | ineabel.santiago@dhs.ga.gov
The Lac Courte Oreilles (LCO) Child Support Program created the Gaawiin Geyaabi project—which means “no more” in Ojibwemowin—to end domestic violence and promote community-wide healing for our tribe and our community. In Sawyer County, which surrounds LCO tribal lands, Native Americans account for about 19% of the population, but 42% are DV victims and 45% are offenders. To address this overrepresentation, the Gaawiin Geyaabi project is drawing on the collective insight and practical experience of local partners and people with lived experience with DV and the historical trauma Native Americans have endured. Together, the project team and their partners will create policies, procedures, and program services that are comprehensive, effective, and culturally relevant
Contact: Alana M. Babineau | 715-318-5916, ext. 215 | alana.babineau@lco-nsn.gov
Child Support Report Article: A Logo That Says “No More” to Domestic Violence (8/2023)
Michigan’s State Court Administrative Office (SCAO) and the Muskegon County Friend of the Court (FOC) are each building a SAVES Advisory Council and creating strong collaborations at the state and local level with domestic violence coalitions, courts, survivors, and other partners to respond to the needs of domestic violence survivors. The SCAO SAVES Advisory Council is also creating subcommittees focused on:
- Court rules and policy
- Training
- Policy and office logistics
- Legislative changes
FOC will pilot a domestic violence triage model. SCAO and FOC are working to create a training curriculum on Michigan’s domestic relations process for domestic violence advocates, including discussion of Good Cause. These collaborations will instill confidence among partner programs and domestic violence survivors in Michigan’s ability to respond appropriately to domestic violence concerns. They will also make it safer for people to get and maintain safety while receiving support services and understand their options if it isn't safe to receive them.
Contact: Kim Kerns | 517-241-7840 | kernsk@michigan.gov
Minnesota’s Child Support Division (CSD) is building a SAVES Advisory Council and creating strong collaborations with domestic violence programs, courts, public assistance agencies, legal aid providers, survivors, and other partners to respond to the needs of domestic violence survivors. CSD is also creating a series of subcommittees focused on policy, practice, and outreach. In addition, they are piloting domestic violence triage models with enhanced protections for survivors. These collaborations will instill confidence among partner programs and their clients in CSD’s ability to respond appropriately to domestic violence concerns. They will also make it safer for people to get and maintain safety while receiving support services and understand their options if it is not safe to receive them.
Contact: Valerie Lunderville | 651-431-4617 | valerie.lunderville@state.mn.us
Missouri’s Child Support Program informs and helps the public, selected domestic court participants, and clients of affiliate organizations of Missouri Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence on domestic violence issues and enhances safety for survivors of domestic violence in the Missouri Child Support Program. The program uses:
- Public education and outreach strategies
- Staff and partner training
- Safe access point with responsive good cause protections for survivors
- Comprehensive domestic violence case processing policies and protocols
- Specialized domestic violence triage teams
Contact: Sydney McCarty | 573-522-6878 | Sydney.L.McCarty@dss.mo.gov
The New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance’s (OTDA) Division of Child Support Services (DCSS) is partnering with the Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence (OPDV) and working with 12 pilot districts on a cross-program, coordinated approach to strengthen safe access to child support services for all families. The focus is to further support economic stability and help survivors gain independence from abusive relationships. DCSS and OPDV is also partnering with the OTDA Employment and Income Support Programs, the New York State Unified Court System Office of Court Administration, local domestic and sexual violence service providers, and people with lived experiences.
The team will review and enhance existing domestic violence policies, procedures, and staff trainings. We have formed a SAVES Advisory Council to ensure project activities are well-informed, developed appropriately, and embedded within the work of the greater community. Additionally, the team has created a SAVES E-News monthly newsletter which serves as a dynamic platform for sharing demonstration accomplishments, promising practices, success stories, and ongoing efforts. This publication ensures that our stakeholders, partners, and the public are all well-informed and engaged in our journey toward improving delivery of child support services. A Family Safety Questions pilot project will begin in October to test the effectiveness of two different question sets aimed at providing parents the opportunity to disclose safety concerns.
Contact: Susanne Dolin | 518-441-9269 | susanne.dolin@otda.ny.gov or SAVES_information@opdv.ny.gov
Ohio’s Office of Child Support (OCS) is partnering with Cuyahoga County Office of Child Support Services, Franklin County Child Support Enforcement Agency, and the Ohio Domestic Violence Network to expand on their current domestic violence initiative. It focuses on providing education, awareness, and policy and procedure advancements to all child support enforcement agencies throughout the state. The SAVES project is providing opportunities to further develop and implement consistent safe services to families in Ohio.
Ohio OCS is working closely with the SAVES Center, state child support enforcement agencies, and public partners on domestic violence awareness, training, technical assistance, screening tools, and improvement and development of policies and procedures to implement safeguards for receiving child support services.
Contact: Katherine Kausek | 614-752-2616 | katherine.kausek@jfs.ohio.gov
Oklahoma Child Support Services’ Protection and Access Toward Hope-Centered Support (PATHS) program is committed to providing viable pathways for survivors of domestic violence to safely access child support, while prioritizing customer safety. The program aims to instill hope in customers by supporting efforts that enhance safety and economic stability. PATHS is dedicated to increasing awareness and understanding about child support services and available safety protections to the community and the customers.
PATHS is dedicated to refining policies and procedures, along with enhancing trauma-informed and culturally responsive domestic violence training and tools for employees. Additionally, the program works to strengthen systems by engaging with communities and building partnerships to foster a collaborative approach in supporting survivors. These combined efforts will enhance resiliency and self-sufficiency through empowerment and engagement for survivors of domestic violence. With this approach, PATHS will foster a future of hope and promise for the families it serves.
Contact: Anita Rydberg | 405-306-9885 | anita.rydberg.ctr@okdhs.org
Through the Case Assessment, Review, and Engagement (CARE) project, the Texas Office of the Attorney General-Child Support Division (OAG-CSD) aims to:
- Enhance internal policies related to domestic violence cases in a pilot region
- Advance the child support process for survivors of domestic violence
- Train staff on new case management strategies
The OAG-CSD is partnering with the state domestic violence coalition—a statewide legal service and advocacy group—and individuals with lived experience to accomplish our goals. Together, we will determine best practices and approaches to improve safety and develop a risk assessment tool that will be applied by case navigators to determine the safest path for survivors.
Contact: Amanda Vasquez | 512-460-6990 | amanda.vasquez@oag.texas.gov
Virginia's Division of Child Support Enforcement (DCSE) is improving their child support services by:
- Increasing awareness of the intersectionality of domestic violence and child support
- Identifying barriers to service access
- Closing technological and policy gaps
- Providing support, guidance, and resources to keep families safe
DCSE is collaborating with the SAVES Center, the Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance, Virginia Commonwealth University’s Research Institute for Social Equity, and local domestic violence service providers. The focus is to systematically by revise policies and protocols while centering the voices of survivors through a permanent advisory council.
Contact: Taylor Ashe | 804-774-2520 | taylor.ashe@dss.virginia.gov
Podcast: A Conversation on the OCSE Safe Access for Victims' Economic Security (SAVES) Demonstration Grant
(01/04/23)
Taylor Ashe (Virginia Child Support), Susanne Dolin (New York Child Support) and Jogeina Tharp (Oklahoma Child Support) shared their hopes and concerned for their exciting five-year projects.
Website: Virginia SAVES
Washington's Division of Child Support (DCS) develops expert-informed child support education, outreach, policies, and procedures for survivors of domestic violence. Through the SAVES project, Washington DCS is testing multiple strategies designed to increase safety for survivors currently receiving child support, and increase understanding and access for those interested in receiving service. As part of this grant, our team will:
- Update and develop domestic violence training for staff and partners
- Develop and disseminate outreach and educational materials
- Pilot a specialized domestic violence triage team
- Use process mapping to identify and mitigate risks and barriers
In addition, we will review the voluntary Acknowledgement of Paternity process and potential parenting time disparities experienced by unmarried parents. Washington DCS is working with domestic violence experts and individuals with lived experience to increase understanding of risks, mitigate barriers to seeking services, and communicate more effectively with survivors of domestic violence.
Contact: Brandon Glover | 360-764-9070 | brandon.glover@dshs.wa.gov
Wisconsin's Department of Children and Families (DCF) is developing and implementing an innovative, trauma-informed, culturally respectful, and equity-focused program called Wisconsin’s Network for Safety (WINS) in Child Support. WINS addresses the needs to:
- Ensure families have safe and full access to child support and parenting time services
- Remedy the underreporting of domestic violence in the child support system
- Enhance case management strategies to manage interactions with survivors and people who use violence
- Strengthen ties between state, tribal, and local service providers
- Enable children and families to thrive financially and to live violence-free lives
Contact: Amy Vannieuwenhoven | 715-361-7719 | amy.vannieuwenhoven@wisconsin.gov