Collections, Outreach, Collections, Outreach, and Beyondand Beyond

Presenters: Tanguler Gray, DCSS Director Stephen Harris, Associate General Counsel

Presentation to: DHS Board Member

Date: June 17, 2015

Georgia Department of Human Services

Division of Child Support Services

Vision, Mission and Core ValuesVision Vision

Stronger Families for a Stronger Georgia.Stronger Families for a Stronger Georgia.

MissionMissionStrengthen Georgia by providing Individuals and Families access to services that promote self-sufficiency, independence, and protect Georgia's vulnerable children and adults.

Core ValuesCore Values• Provide access to resources that offer support and empower Georgians

and their families. • Deliver services professionally and treat all clients with dignity and

respect. Manage business operations effectively and efficiently by aligning resources across the agency.

• Promote accountability, transparency and quality in all services we deliver and programs we administer.

• Develop our employees at all levels of the agency.

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DIVISION OF CHILD SUPPORT SERVICESServices and Demographics FFY14Services and Demographics FFY14

Current InitiativesCurrent InitiativesAmended Value Statement

“Put Children First”

“Children Need Both Parents”

“Government should be a resource to families, not a substitute”Parent Accountability

Investment in our citizens and the community

Self-sufficiency

Outreach Programs: Fatherhood Program

Governor’s Initiative: Alternative to Incarceration – Problem Solving Court

Child Support Services includeChild Support Services include•Locating Non Custodial Parents

•Establishing Paternity

•Establishing, enforcing and modifying financial and medical child support orders

•Collecting and distributing support payments

Caseload Size includesCaseload Size includes•396,640 cases representing over 1.2 Million Georgia citizens

•533,252 children

•94% of Custodial Parents have never received public assistance or formerly received public assistance

•Serve 1 out of every 6 children under the age of 18

•Collections -$704 Million

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EnforcementAdministrative and Judicial Actions are taken to collect delinquent payments (drivers license suspension, passport denial, tax intercept, lottery winning intercept, tag lien, etc.)** DHS Rule: 290-7-1.10

LocateAutomated Interfaces and Manual Searches are performed to locate Non-Custodial Parents

Paternity Establishment

DNA Paternity Test**HB 568-Mandated Paternity

DHS Rule: 290-7-1.03

290-7-1.04

Court Order EstablishmentFinancial SupportMedical Support* Process service (Sherriff or private process server)

FinancialCentralized Payment Processing by the Family Support Registry (FSR)**HB 568-Mandated Paternity

DHS Rule: 290-7-1.05

Intake•Applications•Walk-ins•Mail•CSP/On-line•IV-A Referrals•Foster Care Referrals

Review & ModificationAdministrative and/or Judicial Review of court orders that are 36 months old or older for possible modification of support amount.** DHS Rule: 290-7-1.06

Division of Child Support Services Process FlowProcess Flow

Division of Child Support Services DHS Rules Recommendations DHS Rules Recommendations

Recommendations for ChangesDHS Rules

•290-7-1.03 - Paternity Establishment•290-7-1.04 - Paternity Establishment•290-7-1.05 - Financial•290-7-1.10 - Enforcement•290-7-1-06 - Review & Modification

House Bill 568 Mandatory Genetic Testing With the passing of this bill, DCSS will be required to conduct genetic testing in all cases where the issue of paternity is unresolved. Biological fathers who are identified by DCSS through genetic testing may have a higher likelihood of supporting their children and being a part of their lives thereby reducing the number of families on TANF and increasing the likelihood of children developing relationships with both parents. Mandatory genetic testing should also increase DCSS’ ability to continue to meet its paternity establishment goal each year.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The proposed amendments to 290-7-1 will include the following features:

Increases the gross monthly income threshold related to fee

waivers in cases where a review or modification has been

requested.

Requires a completed application prior to the

commencement of a review or modification.

Allows electronic transmission of the Federal Income

Withholding (FIW) notice.

Sets out the procedures for genetic testing prior to the

establishment of a child support case, including the

requirement for a sworn statement and provisions related to

recouping costs of the testing.

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