Did you know that financial insecurity is the single biggest predictor of whether domestic violence survivors stay with or return to an abusive partner? It traps a survivor in a cycle of violence. Child support can give domestic violence survivors the ability to leave an abusive relationship because it can be a primary source of income for custodial families.
This Domestic Violence Awareness month, we announced $11.2 million in grants to one tribal and 12 state child support agencies to increase safe access to child support and parenting time services. Recipients of the Safe Access for Victims’ Economic Security (SAVES) grant will implement comprehensive domestic violence safety policies, procedures, and outreach activities. This will enhance safety for domestic violence survivors already in the child support program and increase access to child support and parenting time services for those not receiving services due to safety concerns. It will help survivors get the financial support they need to establish safe, violence-free homes for themselves and their children.
OCSE is also funding a SAVES Center, which will have two primary roles:
- Provide training, technical assistance, and evaluation for the demonstration projects
- Create resources, provide technical assistance, and deliver training for child support professionals in all state and tribal programs nationwide
The five-year SAVES project will increase the capacity of the national child support program to provide trauma-informed services that increase survivor safety and enhance their families’ economic independence.
These grants are one more way we’re working to make safe access to child support a reality for the millions of parents who need our services.
Tanguler Gray, Commissioner
This blog gives the commissioner a forum to communicate directly with child support professionals and other stakeholders about relevant topics. The Commissioner’s Voice is reprinted from the October 2022 Child Support Report newsletter.