The Right Tool for the Job: Child Support Enforcement Tools and Their Relationship to Payments

Child support staff have an array of tools to use when noncustodial parents fail to pay. Drawing on staff interviews, this analysis examines staff perspectives on when and how to enforce; practice transitions; and best practices. Findings indicate that caseworkers have some discretion in selecting and sequencing tools. Discretion helps workers adapt to circumstances, but also leads to differences in parents' experiences. Over time, agencies have shifted culture and practices to align with family needs. Consequently, staff roles have extended beyond collections into providing services that identify address compliance barriers. Implications for staffing, leadership, services and policy are discussed.