Tribal Child Support Enforcement

1. Tribal Child Support Enforcement Everything You Wanted to Know… But Were Afraid to Ask National Tribal Child Support Association

2. It’s All About the Children! • Tribal Child Support Programs assist families in obtaining and maintaining self-sufficiency through: • Paternity Establishment • Establishment and Enforcement of child support orders.

3. Why Would You Want Your Own Program? • Tribal children often do not receive adequate or fair child support services; • Parents often do not receive adequate or fair services; • Operating your own program allows Tribes to develop and enforce child support laws that reflect Tribal tradition and values; • Tribal child support programs are culturally sensitive and easily accessible to your tribal members.

4. Benefits • There are many benefits to having your own Tribal Child Support Agency (TCSA). • Benefit # 1 • Paternity Establishment ensures fathers are afforded legal rights • Proper paternity establishment helps to ensure proper enrollment of Tribal children for Tribes with blood quantum criteria.

5. Benefits (cont.) • Benefit # 2 • Tribal Law can allow courts more authority and flexibility in how cases are handled. • It allows Tribes to develop creative solutions to circumstances that may be unique to their Tribe and Tribal members.

6. Benefits (cont.) • Benefit # 3 • Tribes have the authority to withhold from Tribal enterprises and/or per capita payments. • Benefit # 4 • Increased financial responsibility of parents means less reliance on tribal program finds.

7. The Greatest Benefits are for the Children. • Sons and daughters will know who their father is; • Children will be assured their basic needs are met; • All children deserve to be financially and emotionally supported by both parents.

8. Funding Source Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Administration for Children and Families (ACF) Office of Child Support Enforcement (OCSE) is the funding source for Tribal Child Support Enforcement programs.

9. How Does my Tribe Qualify for Funding? • There is direct Federal funding available under the Interim Rule if your Tribe is currently operating a comprehensive child support program. • A tribe may join an already funded Tribe through a consortium arrangement.

10. Why Would We Want Federal Dollars? • To expand or improve your program giving you IV-D status: • Having IV-D status provides opportunities for other resources such as Access and Visitation; • Having IV-D status allows free exchange of information and ensures cooperation from other IV-D programs.

11. Direct Federal Funds • By 2004, the Final Rule will be published. • If your Tribe does not have a “comprehensive” program, the Rule will provide start-up costs to assist your Tribe in enhancing or establishing a Tribal Child Support Program.

12. What regulations come with the funding? • Your program must be able to meet 5 primary mandates: • Establishment of Paternity • Establishment of Child Support Orders • Enforcement of Child Support Orders • Modification of Child Support Orders • Location of Absent Parents

13. A Tribal Child Support Enforcement Program is NOT just a Collection Agency • We are here to assist families with Tribal children to obtain and maintain self-sufficiency; • To provide information and education; • To provide quality customer service.

14. It’s for the Children… • Every child has a right to know who their father is; • Every child has a right to be financially and emotionally supported by both parents.

15. For More Information: • Please attend the other workshops offered at this conference: • Assessing Tribal Infrastructure • IV-A / IV-D Collaboration • The Conference Binder contains a variety of useful informational handouts.

16. Contact Information: • Jerry Sweet / Chickasaw Nation • 580-310-6009 • Martha Renville / Sisseton-Wahpeton • 605-698-7131 • Tami Lorbecke / Chickasaw Nation • 918-272-6909 • Kate Christnot / OCSE • 202-401-4842