August is Child Support Month in Michigan | News, Sports, Jobs

In recognition of the tireless efforts of child welfare workers, employers, state and county departments, hospitals and community partners to support Michigan’s children and families, Governor Gretchen Whitmer has designated August 2024 as Michigan Child Support Month.

The Michigan Child Support Program strives to help families support each other both financially and emotionally. The Child Support Program is a partnership of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) Office of Child Support (OCS), Friend of the Court Offices, district attorneys’ offices, the Administrative Office of the State Court, employers, hospitals and other community agencies .

“I am proud of the work MDHHS continues to do to support Michigan’s children and families,” said MDHHS Director Elizabeth Hertel. “Our Office of Child Support believes in the importance of direct interaction with those we serve to help provide vital services to Michigan’s children and their families.”

“A big focus of ours this past year has been listening to families observe, asking the right questions, and applying what we’ve learned.” said Erin Frisch, director of the Michigan Office of Child Support. “We strive to be thoughtful in the decisions we make, improving communication with those we serve. I am proud of this program’s commitment to continuous improvement.”

The Michigan Child Support Program offers professional, non-judgmental services to help mothers, fathers, grandparents and guardians get the financial resources they need for their children.

It also provides parents of all income levels with assistance in obtaining financial support and health insurance for their children, helps locate parents, establishes paternity, opens and manages child support cases, and collects and pays child support payments.

Every dollar spent in the program collects $4.92 to provide support to children in Michigan.

Highlights for 2023 include:

≤ OCS is piloting a child support navigation services program in Calhoun, Genesee, Kent and Wayne counties. The goal is to provide help through a process that can be complex and sometimes confusing. Parents and non-parent carers will be able to receive navigation services at any stage, whether they are considering making a case or are currently paying or receiving child support. Navigation services are free and participation is voluntary. Services will begin in the fall of 2024.

≤ Policy changes related to assisted reproductive technology were made to remove the requirement for donor anonymity. This policy update also allows for waivers when ART is used in conception, whether or not it was in a medical setting.

≤ Michigan state and county child support offices have provided services to more than 819,000 children and their families.

≤ More than $1.04 billion was collected and distributed to Michigan families.

≤ Families receiving cash assistance and child support received $3.5 million directly in lieu of these funds to reimburse the costs of state and federal programs. Governor Whitmer created this passage allowing families to receive additional funding beginning with the signing of the fiscal year 2020 state budget.

Child support information is available at Michigan.gov/ChildSupport.