In Everybody's Best Interests: Why Reforming Child Support Distribution Makes Sense for Government and Families

Publication Date: September 2005

Publisher: Center for Law and Social Policy

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Type: Brief

Coverage: United States

Abstract:

More than 17 million children are served by the public child support program but many never see the funds collected on their behalf. Instead, collections are used to recoup the public costs of familiesÂ’ welfare cash assistance. Recent reform proposals would shift the programÂ’s emphasis from cost recovery to family support. This brief describes the regulations, and how families and government alike stand to benefit from the direct pass-through of child support payments to children.