Reducing child support payment non-compliance

How do you help noncustodial parents (NCPs) start off – and stay – compliant with child support obligations? In California, we implemented the Maximus Child Support Debt Prevention Program (DPP) in seven counties to increase collections, avoid punitive actions, reduce spending on cases, and free up staff time to focus their efforts and expertise where it’s needed most – on the more challenging cases.

Proactive efforts get results

Our personalized early intervention approach helps newly obligated NCPs start and continue paying – and it works. Supported by technology, the Maximus Debt Prevention Program:

• Increases continued full, on-time payments
• Minimizes arrears
• Increases overall delinquency prevention
• Allows staff to give more time and attention to NCPs who require enforcement or legal action

Building relationships

This one-on-one supportive approach builds a cooperative relationship that helps NCPs get in the habit of compliance.

The program provides personal contact with NCPs and employers at the start of a new support order. Experienced early intervention specialists explain obligations and requirements and answer NCP and employer questions, often before the first payment is due. This one-on-one supportive approach builds a cooperative relationship that helps NCPs get in the habit of compliance. The program encourages and promotes regular payments through early and consistent contact, monitors compliance, and helps NCPs connect to community resources and overcome barriers to payment.

Cost-effective collection

Our DPP program has delivered dramatic results for California:

• In Contra Costa County, our program that began in 2010 helped the county increase its percentage of collections on new orders from 58 percent to 70 percent.
• In Stanislaus County, during the 82 months since it began participating in the Maximus DPP, the proactive efforts of our trained early intervention specialists — including the placement of more than 31,000 live calls to NCPs and their employers — are part of the reason more than $44.2 million in support has been paid by NCPs, representing 74 percent of current support owed.
• From January 2010 through September 2018, the seven participating counties have collected $137 million.