Commissioner Tanguler Gray

The national child support program serves a diverse group of families, including those with family members living in other countries. We work hard to ensure we’re providing excellent service to those international families just as we are to families nationwide. One way we’re doing this is through the Central Authority Payment service (CAP).

What is CAP?

Many countries have shifted to sending and receiving child support payments electronically rather than by check. CAP helps states eliminate paper checks and transmit child support payments electronically to other countries. Here’s how it works:

1. State agencies send payments to CAP using the current ACH electronic process. 
2. CAP consolidates all payments received from states and uses the International Treasury Services (ITS) to send a single weekly payment to each country. ITS converts the payment to the destination currency before transmitting.
3. CAP securely provides case and payment details to the foreign authority, allowing payment disbursement to custodial parents in their country.

This service reduces the burden on states of establishing new international ACH processes. It also reduces the cost of transmission because it centralizes payments using existing federal processes, which ensures families receive more money. Twenty-eight states now use CAP, and the service just crossed the 1,300 mark for payments processed—this alone has saved $45,000 - $55,000 in processing fees.

CAP currently only sends payments to Germany, but we’ll work to add other countries that do not accept checks. We encourage all states to enroll in CAP now—regardless of whether you send payments to Germany—because it will speed your onboarding when a country you do send payments to is added to the service. 

How do states enroll?

States can request the CAP State Enrollment Guide that provides the details, but here are the basic steps to enroll:

1. The state must reconcile their caseload with Germany. 
2. The state completes a State Contact Information form and provides any additional information requested by CAP. 
3. The state prepares a test ACH file based on the technical specifications contained in the CAP State Enrollment Guide and sends the test file to CAP. 
4. After successful testing, CAP will provide its service bank account information to the state, and the state starts sending payments to CAP.

I’m very proud of our team’s work to help states streamline their electronic international payments. This is a great example of focusing on one of my 3Ps — process. We should always be open to streamlining processes to ensure we are working efficiently and effectively. CAP enhances the child support program’s ability to support families around the world. 

You can email CAP_Program@acf.hhs.gov if you’d like more information.

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Leslie Owens and Amy Rice, Ohio Office of Child Support

In August 2020, OCSE awarded funding to eight state child support agencies through the Economic Mobility and Responsible Parenting Demonstration Grant. In July 2021, OCSE awarded funding to an additional cohort of seven states and two tribal programs. This article is part of a series that features awardees’ efforts to leverage the child support program’s responsible parenting expertise. For more information email michael.hayes@acf.hhs.gov or donna.steele@acf.hhs.gov.

Ohio’s Office of Child Support is working with local child support agencies in five counties, community partners, and public schools to teach youth about responsible parenting and child support. The sites are using curriculum from the “No Kidding Ohio: Straight Talk from Teen Parents” program. This peer-to-peer education curriculum highlights the legal, financial, and emotional realities of teen parenting. 

The program is presented over three sessions by teen parents known as Peer Educators. In session one, the Peer Educators share their personal stories of being a young parent and the realities of having a baby before they were ready. They encourage youth to delay parenthood until they’ve completed their education, started a career, and are in a committed and healthy relationship. Session two promotes ways to strengthen families and the importance of having an involved father. This session includes ways to establish paternity and the benefits that come from a legal father-child relationship. In session three, students learn about child support, the costs to raise a child, and the importance of both parents supporting a child financially and emotionally. 

Early successes

We’re working with the Ohio University to assess the program’s implementation and impact to determine effective strategies for future child support education and outreach. One of the early successes is the personal growth of the Peer Educators, including their outlook on life and their drive to give back to their communities. Our office joined the Ohio University to co-host a Summer Institute in 2022 that allowed Peer Educators statewide to collaborate in person and share their achievements and struggles. We’re planning a second Summer Institute this year. 

Three Peer Educators also participated in the National Child Support Enforcement Association's “On Location” podcast . They discussed their role, how it has helped them become better parents, and what it felt like giving back to their community. They also highlighted the importance of co-parenting, fatherhood, and educating students about the choices they make. One Peer Educator talked about the program’s mentoring and how it helped her learn the skills to be successful. She’s now in college studying special education and earning enough income to support her family. 

To learn more about No Kidding Ohio, email Amy.Rice@jfs.ohio.gov or Leslie.K.Owens@jfs.ohio.gov.

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Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

Mental health disorders usually arise in childhood or adolescence and can affect how children learn, develop emotionally, and build relationships with others. According to the latest Youth Risk Behavior Survey (CDC)  (PDF), the rates of youth reporting feelings of poor mental health are at all-time highs. From 2011 to 2021, the rate of female high school students feeling sad or hopeless almost every day for at least two weeks increased from 36% to 57%. For male students, this rate increased from 21% to 29%. 

Providing children with tools to manage their mental health is important year-round. However, as we observe Mental Health Awareness Month in May, we can remind families of essential mental and behavioral health services available through Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). 

Medicaid and CHIP coverage

Medicaid and CHIP provide comprehensive health coverage for kids and teens up to age 19 for a wide array of services, including vaccinations, well-child visits, oral health and vision care, and mental and behavioral health services. Eligibility depends on household income and size. For example, a family of four with an income up to $60,000 may qualify. Child support professionals working with parents and caregivers can remind families to enroll their children in Medicaid and CHIP to access these important health benefits. The campaign has several resources at InsureKidsNow.gov that include posters, flyers, and newsletter content focused on mental and behavioral health. You can also use the following social media posts to spread the word:

• Did you know that #Medicaid and #CHIP cover essential mental and behavioral health services? Learn more at @IKNgov: https://bit.ly/3EzbHsg #MHAM
   
• This #MentalHealthAwarenessMonth, encourage parents and caregivers to enroll in #Medicaid and #CHIP health coverage so families can access essential mental and behavioral health services for their kids and teens. Explore @IKNgov outreach tools to help get families covered: https://bit.ly/3EzbHsg
   
• Remind families that support is available for kids and teens struggling with their mental health. Help families enroll so they can get access to treatment and prevention through #Medicaid and #CHIP. Learn more about coverage and enrollment today @IKNgov: https://bit.ly/3MoaiqC #MHAM

Enrollment in Medicaid and CHIP is open year-round, and families can find coverage in their state at InsureKidsNow.gov/coverage. 

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The Training and Technical Assistance Guide (formerly called OCSE Menu of Services) offers training opportunities, technical assistance services, and resources for your program. Materials are available either on-demand or by request. For more information, contact your regional office.

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