ACF Announces New Name for Federal Child Support Office to Reflect Family-Centered Approach

The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced today it has renamed the Office of Child Support Enforcement to the Office of Child Support Services (OCSS). This change reflects the program’s commitment to serving the whole family and promoting family self-sufficiency. The program will continue offering a vast range of services, including enforcement remedies, and will continue to partner with child support agencies and others to encourage parental responsibility so children receive reliable support from both parents. 

“Child support is an important program that helps provide economic stability for families across the country,” said ACF Assistant Secretary January Contreras. “Today’s announcement recognizes the modernized and innovative services that child support partnerships are providing to strengthen child and family well-being, including employment programs, fatherhood initiatives, and demonstration grants that help build safety and equity.” 

Since the child support program was established in 1975, it has shifted from recovering state public assistance costs to focusing on family support. This evolution has been guided by federal legislation and the changing needs of families. In addition to services funded directly by the child support program, OCSS also supports states and tribes by providing funding for family-centered services. These services include employment and training programs, reentry employment programs, fatherhood and visitation programs and several other family-centered efforts to promote and encourage financial and emotional support to children and families.  

The name change will also encourage more participation in the program. Noncustodial parents often fear child support enforcement, potential incarceration and the stigma and shame associated with enforcement remedies. This change demonstrates the program is adopting a more inclusive, family-centered and service-oriented model. In fact, many child support programs have already removed enforcement from their name. 

“First impressions matter, and the Office of Child Support Services is a name that reflects our commitment to serving and supporting the whole family,” said OCSS Commissioner Tanguler Gray. “We want families to know we’re here to help them support their children and have services that can help everyone thrive.” 

In FY21, programs nationwide collected $32.7 billion in child support and served 13.2 million children (PDF)—that’s 1 in 5 children in the United States.