SAVES Center Data Collection for Program Improvement

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Instrument 2: Child Support Policies and Practices Survey 
The following 10 categories of questions address current policies and practices regarding domestic violence and safety in many areas of child support. This information will be used to better understand efforts to increase safe access to child support, parenting time, and establishment of parentage services for survivors of domestic violence. This information will be kept private, and your participation is voluntary. It is anticipated that this will take approximately 60 minutes to complete. 

The items in the individual rows are policies, practices, and resources that might be relevant. Only some suggested policies, practices, and resources will likely be relevant, and it is also okay if the answer is unknown; please fill out as much information as you can. 
Briefly describe the relevant policies, practices, and/or resources that are in use and describe challenges in their implementation on a statewide basis, their accessibility to survivors, and other operational issues that may limit their effectiveness. Please also note if the policy or resource is publicly available. 

1. Public information about safety and child support: Where and how does the child support program currently address domestic violence and child support? Options? 

Policy, Practice, Resource
Description
Challenges
Website


Parent portal


Brochures


Child support application or application cover sheet


Client letters


Staff contact with parents during case management activities


Call center automated system option


Other



2. Screening for domestic violence: Do child support and its partner agencies (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Medicaid, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and Child Care) try to promote disclosures of domestic violence? Who does it? How do they do it? If questions are used, how many and what types are asked? How uniform is this across agencies, counties, and workers? 

Policy, Practice, Resource
Description
Challenges
TANF application question(s)


Medicaid application question(s)


SNAP application question(s)


Child Care application question(s)


Child support application question(s)


Child support intake information form question(s)


Intake interviews (if held)


At other points in case processing and/or enforcement actions


Other



3. Child welfare reports: Are child support workers and workers in sister benefit programs mandated child welfare reporters? What types of domestic violence information by clients might trigger a report to Child Protective Services (CPS)? Does this vary by agency, county, and/or worker? Note: we understand that you may not have access to or knowledge of these agencies/programs. 

Policy, Practice, Resource
Description
Challenges
CPS reports by child support staff


Reports by TANF agencies


Other benefit programs


Family courts


Other legal partners


Other



4. Types of documentation required for safety actions. What type of documentation (Temporary Protective Order, police, medical, domestic violence program statements) is required for different types of safety actions? Are survivor statements, verbal or written, adequate absent other documentation?

Policy, Practice, Resource
Description
Challenges
Family Violence Indicator (FVI)


Address protection/redaction in child support agency processes


Address protection/redaction in legal filings and in court records


Eligibility for state address protection/alternative address program (external)


Good cause


Modification of the child support process


Case closure for safety


Other



5. Applying for Good Cause: How is good cause handled for TANF, Medicaid, SNAP, and Child Care? Which agency handles various parts of the GC process and how accessible is it to clients?

Policy, Practice, Resource
Description
Challenges
Explaining good cause to clients


Application process


Document requirements


Assisting with application


Deciding good cause


Sanction for child support non-cooperation


Recertification requirements


Other



6. The outcomes of a domestic violence disclosure at the child support agency. What does the child support agency do in response to a domestic violence disclosure? How common are modifications to/safety mitigation in these various actions?

Policy, Practice, Resource
Description
Challenges
Family Violence Indicator (FVI)


Address confidentiality


Domestic violence case banner on system


Explain child support actions and safety


Explain possible safety modifications to child support actions


Paternity testing actions 


Case conferences/meetings


Court hearings


Order modifications


Enforcement actions


Contempt actions


Case closure for safety


Other



7. Staff training on domestic violence: How much and what type of domestic violence training do different types of child support staff get? What topics are addressed? What’s missing?

Policy, Practice, Resource
Description
Challenges
All staff


Case managers


Supervisors


Legal staff


Call center staff


New workers


Other



8. Voluntary paternity acknowledgement: Who supervises/handles the Voluntary Acknowledgement of Paternity (VAP) process? How much training do birth registrars get about the VAP? Does it include domestic violence? Do parents get written info about the VAP? Does it mention domestic violence? Possible child support outcomes? Custody implications? 

Policy, Practice, Resource
Description
Challenges
Child support staff vs. private vendor


VAP training for birth registrars (hours/frequency)


Is domestic violence part of training?


What parental rights are conferred with the VAP? 


Does information on VAP for parents include mention of custody? Child support? Domestic violence?


Any prenatal explanation of VAP


Other



9. Parenting Time: Does child support address parenting time when it establishes a child support order for unmarried parents? How often is that done? How is it done? Where does child support refer parents who want parenting time (e.g., family court filing or mediation program)? Are there any procedures/resources to address safety (e.g., safety parenting plans)? What is the parenting time threshold (number of overnights) for a child support adjustment?

Policy, Practice, Resource
Description
Challenges
Child support takes no legal action to establish parenting time


Child support routinely files legal action to establish parenting time 


Child support does not file legal action for parenting time, but court routinely addresses on certain cases


Standard parenting plans used


Referral for family court filing


Referral to mediation program


Online parenting plans offered


Referral to legal aid/attorneys


Referral to supervised visits


Child support guideline treatment of parenting time


Other



10. Other domestic violence and safety activity: Does the child support agency invest in other resources and pursue other activities to promote safety?

Policy, Practice, Resource
Description
Challenges
Domestic violence liaison/specialized staff


Domestic violence triage team


Contract with domestic violence coalition


Meeting with domestic violence providers


Cross agency domestic violence/child support training


Coordination with TANF on good cause


Coordination with domestic violence court


Coordination with child support judicial officers/court


Survivors on child support policy boards


Other



Next Steps:

    • What policies and practices do this site want to focus on to improve survivor safety?
    • What types of help/support does this site want from the SAVES Center in the policy/procedure area?
    • Who is the state TANF agency lead with whom we should discuss policies and procedures on good cause and safety? (Name/email)
    • Who is the state court lead with whom we should discuss policies and procedures concerning safety? (Name/email)