Right-Sizing Orders

Ruth Garcia, Research Manager

Dee Dinnie, Chief Deputy Attorney

Orange County Child Support

Right Size Orders

Guideline Goals Economic Climate Research Findings Impact on Arrears Possible Approaches to Achieving

Family Success Judicial Administrative Community Partners

Guideline Goals

Best Interests of Child

Appropriate Order

What does the Data Tell Us

ChildSupport

Payments

Ratio of Order to

Wage(ROTW)

Economic Climate

3%3%

6%6%

4.9%

12%

9%

5%

4.6%

10%

7%

1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007 2009 2011 2013

Unemployment Rate

Orange County California United States

Source: United States Bureau of Labor StatisticsShaded area represents the Great Recession from December 2007 to June 2009

Economic Climate

17%

12%

18%

25%

17%

24%

20%

18%

23%

1997 2000 2003 2006 2009 2012

Percent of Children Under Age 18 in Poverty

Orange County California United States

Source: United States Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty EstimatesShaded area represents the Great Recession from December 2007 to June 2009

California Guideline Study

Ratio of order to wage (ROTW) is a major predictor of child support payments

Some NCPs have barriers which are associated with lower child support payments

Taking NCP’s barriers into consideration, the study shows that ROTW remains an important factor in child support payments

Orders above 19% yield lower compliance

Impact of Barriers

Barriers Study 63% of NCPs

surveyed had a HS Diploma/GED or did not complete HS

Other Research

Child Support Orders and Payments• Institute for Research on Poverty – University

of Wisconsin-Madison

Study That Addressed Child Support Compliance Through the Great Recession

• Mincy, Ronald B. (Columbia University – Fragile Families Working Paper)

Impact on Arrears

Child Support is a critical source of income for poor families and it has the ability to lift a family out of poverty

Child Support also has the ability to push a person further into poverty

Strategies for Success

Right Size

Orders

Partnering with the

Community

Tips for Success

Court Hearing Process and Collaboration

“In-house” via Stipulations approved by the Court

POSSIBLE Strategies / Ideas

Orders set for Long Term Family Success • Step Up Orders:

Child Support set at a nominal amount for six months while GED is completed, thus eliminating a barrier

Set at a nominal amount until completion of drug rehab program, thus eliminating a barrier

• Educating the Court partners on research data, guideline compliance, barriers….

• Drivers License Releases

• Court Ordered Job Seeks

• Pilot Programs - Fragile Family Caseload: Court Hearing with Resource Representatives

Partnering with Community

Community Resources

Community Resource Center

Social Safety Net Trainings One Stop Center 211 New Leaf Program Social Services Family Law Facilitator Homeless Court

Top 5 Needs of Parents

44%

20%

15%

13%8%

Orange County Community Resource Center

Family Law Facilitator (FLF)

Employment

Legal Aid

Food/Clothing

Health Services

Ruth Garcia – Research Manager

(714)347-8045

Dee Dinnie – Chief Deputy Attorney

(714)347-8130