April 2024 Child Support Report
April 2024 Child Support Report April 30, 2024 | Volume 45 | No. 4 | Monthly
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Illinois Efforts to Protect DV Survivors
Irene Curran, Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services, Child Support Services

Did you know that intimate partner violence affects more than 12 million people every year ? One of the main reasons survivors stay with their abusers is because of financial dependence. Child support can be a lifesaving option that offers financial freedom for a parent wanting to seek safety for them and their family. At Illinois Child Support Services, we’ve taken steps to address the financial insecurity survivors face and help them find safety.
Domestic Violence Training
One of our first steps, was to have staff take the OCSS domestic violence training that focuses on the intersection of DV and child support. It gives staff the skills and knowledge they need to deliver safe, effective services to survivors while also maintaining their safety. You can request training by emailing michael.hayes@acf.hhs.gov. To continue the training, we also established an agreement with a domestic violence organization under the Illinois Department of Human Services to provide ongoing training for staff to ensure they’re well-equipped to address the unique needs of survivors.
Cook County Initiatives
We formed an intergovernmental agreement with Sarah’s Inn, a local domestic violence shelter in Cook County. Child support staff regularly visit the shelter to meet with clients and discuss services. The Access and Visitation Grant was transferred from family court to the domestic violence court in Cook County because a mediator retired. Mediations for never-married parties are conducted in a safe setting to help establish temporary parenting plans.
Customer Outreach and Family-Centric Approach
Our Customer Outreach Division has intensified efforts to offer services to survivors, including creating a new unit called Family Resource Connections. In Will County, child support collaborates with the Attorney General’s office and the judiciary. Staff attend court sessions twice a month, providing enrollment assistance and answering questions. These efforts reflect our commitment to becoming more family-centric, ensuring survivors receive the support they need.
This is just the beginning of our ongoing efforts to actively engage survivors, partner with organizations, and improve services. We aim to create a safer and more supportive environment for families facing domestic violence challenges.
For more information, email irene.curran@Illinois.gov.
Tri-State Conference Discusses Intergovernmental Best Practices
Dena Rogers, Assistant Director, Kentucky Division of Child Support Enforcement

In February, 93 child support professionals from Kentucky, Ohio, and Indiana came together for the 9th Annual Tri-State Border Conference hosted by the Indiana Prosecuting Attorneys Council. Each state highlighted their program’s organizational structure, statutorily mandated services, and responsibilities of various entities involved in their state’s program. Attendees were also able to discuss differences between each state’s operations and address challenges that offices are having with intergovernmental processes.
This conference also included presentations from other groups that were approved by Indiana Supreme Court for Continuing Legal Education (CLE) credit. There was a presentation on intergovernmental jurisdiction by David Morris, Staff Attorney with Indiana Prosecuting Attorneys Council. Courtney Garnand from the federal Office of Child Support Services presented on intergovernmental Portal tools such as Federal Case Registry, Communication Center, Electronic Document Exchange, Query Interstate Cases for Kids, International Forms, and the Intergovernmental Reference Guide. Courtney also talked about future Portal enhancements that will help collaboration.
Intergovernmental tips
Staff were able to network with out-of-state colleagues while working together on case scenarios, interstate case law, and best practices. Here are a few best practices you might consider:
- Host a convening: When you get colleagues in one room, you’re able to discuss pain points and work on solutions.
- Share how your program operates: When out-of-state colleagues understand your processes, it’s easier to work together toward the same goal.
- Network: Making connections with colleagues can improve collaboration. If there’s an issue, knowing who to email or call could get your question answered quicker!
- Stay up to date: Sign up for newsletters and attend webinars to find out about changes or enhancements at the state and federal level.
Plans for next year’s conference are already in the works, and we can’t wait to develop more ways to improve intergovernmental collaboration.
For more information, email denam.rogers@ky.gov.
Special thanks to LaToya Brook, Program Services Branch Manager, and Danielle Noe, SPLS/Central Registry Supervisor, for their contributions to the conference and this article.
Training for Child Support Professionals
Jenny Parker, Instructional Designer, Child Support Training Partnership

Looking to level up your skills? You should check out the Child Support Training Partnership! It’s a place to find professional development opportunities for child support professionals, especially those who work in training. Our mission is to advance the current and future state of child support training through networking, communication, and collaboration.
CSTP has something going on each month:
- Conference calls: Join calls to hear formal presentations on topics like different curriculum subjects and training software and tools.
- Networking calls: Participate in networking calls during the first and last month of the quarter. There is no formal presentation, but it’s a space for members to share information or ask questions. We have members from every state and many tribes, so it’s a great way to collaborate with other child support professionals.
- Quarterly newsletters: Read articles from and interviews with other trainers and child support professionals for information and tips on a variety of topics ranging from training software to new programs or processes in child support.
You can also get involved by joining our LinkedIn group , where you can post professional development opportunities, ask questions, or give advice to other CSTP members.
If you’re interested in learning more, subscribe to the CSTP newsletter . You can also fill out this volunteer form to write an article, be interviewed for an article, or present on a conference call.
If you have any questions, email jparker1@iastate.edu.
Resource Alert: Handout on Services Offered by the Program
Use this handout for community outreach (PDF) explaining how child support works and highlighting the main services that the program provides.
Policy Recap
OCSS issued recent guidance to help states and tribes develop and operate their child support programs according to federal laws and regulations:
About Child Support Report
Child Support Report is published monthly by the Office of Child Support Services. We welcome articles and high-quality digital photos to consider for publication. We reserve the right to edit for style, content and length, or not accept an article. OCSS does not endorse the practices or individuals in this newsletter. You may reprint an article in its entirety (or contact the author or editor for permission to excerpt); please identify Child Support Report as the source.
Jeff Hild Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, performing the delegable duties of the Assistant Secretary for Children and Families | Tanguler Gray Commissioner, OCSS |
Crystal Peeler Director, Division of Customer Communications | Andrew Phifer Editor, CSR.Editor@acf.hhs.gov |