The Administration for Children and Families’ (ACF) Office of Child Support Enforcement (OCSE) and Administration for Native Americans (ANA) are committed to strengthening our partnerships with tribal governments.
In a joint letter (PDF), OCSE Commissioner Tanguler Gray and ANA Commissioner Patrice Kunesh highlighted a recently published Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) (PDF) regarding the non-federal share of child support expenditures for the tribal child support program. Eliminating the non-federal share expenditures will promote equity by removing a substantial financial burden for tribal communities that have been historically underserved, marginalized, or subject to discrimination or systemic disadvantage.
“Tribal leaders have long led the charge for ACF to re-evaluate the non-federal share requirement for the child support program. Indeed, the law anticipated that the match requirement would be revisited after Tribes had a chance to determine if it was overly burdensome. Now, through the tribal leaders steadfast leadership and engagement, and in partnership with ACF, OCSE is officially opening the regulation up to review,” said Administration for Native Americans Commissioner/Deputy Assistant Secretary for Native American Affairs Patrice H. Kunesh
In FY 2021, tribal child support programs collected $53 million in child support payments, and 97% went to families. Native American children in tribal areas with child support programs are in great need of child support, especially since 53% of Native American children in these areas lived in single-parent families.
“OCSE is delighted with the publication of the NPRM that proposes to eliminate the non-federal share of program expenditures for the tribal child support programs,” said OCSE Commissioner Tanguler Gray. “We have heard from the tribal child support community for years about the hardship in meeting the non-federal share requirement. We hope this proposed change will support the tribal child support program’s ability to deliver needed services across Native communities.”
ACF encourages comment submission on the Elimination of the Tribal Non-Federal Share Requirement NPRM by June 20, 2023, via Regulations.gov .
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Quick Facts
- The Administration for Children and Families’ (ACF) Office of Child Support Enforcement (OCSE) and Administration for Native Americans (ANA) are committed to strengthening our partnerships with tribal governments.
- In a joint letter , OCSE Commissioner Tanguler Gray and ANA Commissioner Patrice Kunesh highlighted a recently published Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) regarding the non-federal share of child support expenditures for the tribal child support program.
- Eliminating the non-federal share expenditures will promote equity by removing a substantial financial burden for tribal communities that have been historically underserved, marginalized, or subject to discrimination or systemic disadvantage.
- In FY 2021, tribal child support programs collected $53 million in child support payments, and 97% went to families. Native American children in tribal areas with child support programs are in great need of child support, especially since 53% of Native American children in these areas lived in single-parent families.
Quotes
“OCSE is delighted with the publication of the NPRM that proposes to eliminate the non-federal share of program expenditures for the tribal child support programs.”— Tanguler Gray, Office of Child Support Enforcement Commissioner
“We have heard from the tribal child support community for years about the hardship in meeting the non-federal share requirement. We hope this proposed change will support the tribal child support program’s ability to deliver needed services across Native communities.”— Tanguler Gray, Office of Child Support Enforcement Commissioner
“This proposal addresses concerns raised by Tribal leaders for years and enhances service delivery to families. Today’s announcement emphasizes our commitment to our government to government relationship with tribal governments.”— January Contreras, assistant secretary, Administration for Children and Families
“Tribal leaders have long led the charge for ACF to re-evaluate the non-federal share requirement for the child support program. Indeed, the law anticipated that the match requirement would be revisited after Tribes had a chance to determine if it was overly burdensome. Now, through the tribal leaders steadfast leadership and engagement, and in partnership with ACF, OCSE is officially opening the regulation up to review”— - Patrice H. Kunesh, Administration for Native Americans commissioner/deputy assistant secretary for Native American Affairs
Additional Links
- Joint letter (PDF — 185.19 KB)
- Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
Contact
Administration for Children & Families
Office of Communications
330 C Street, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20201
Phone: (202) 401-9215
Fax: (202) 205-9688
Email: media@acf.hhs.gov