How linking child support and employment helps move families forward

The ability of child support programs to advance the economic stability and wellbeing of children and families is closely tied to engagement — especially with noncustodial parents. When these parents are meaningfully engaged, they are more likely to provide reliable child support payments and take an active role in co-parenting. Yet barriers like unemployment or underemployment often limit their ability to do so.

To address this challenge, many child support agencies have introduced employment and training (E&T) services into their programs through job fairs, referrals, and partnerships with workforce development organizations. However, sustaining these efforts can be difficult due to limited or inflexible funding.

Flexibility improved in late 2024, when the federal Office of Child Support Services finalized a rule expanding the use of IV-D federal funds to include support for E&T services. Once a state receives federal approval, these funds can be used for job search assistance, readiness training, placement and retention services, and occupational training for noncustodial parents.

This policy shift is significant. It gives agencies the flexibility to redirect funds traditionally reserved for enforcement to services that promote long-term stability, including those previously viewed as outside the scope of child support. With this new rule, state and local agencies can take more innovative approaches to help noncustodial parents achieve economic self-sufficiency and meet their financial responsibilities.

It also reflects a broader shift in the child support community from enforcement to engagement. Traditional punitive measures like wage garnishment, license suspension, or incarceration have not consistently achieved intended collection outcomes. In contrast, early intervention, right-sized orders, and supportive services like E&T show greater promise.

An investment in family stability

Among engagement strategies, E&T stands out. It’s proven to increase collections and can be more cost-effective than punitive enforcement efforts in the long run, according to Manpower Demonstration Research and Mathematica. While implementing E&T services may require upfront investment, it ultimately reduces the time and expense associated with court-based enforcement.

Just as importantly, E&T promotes the long-term stability and wellbeing of families. Noncustodial parents who gain marketable skills and secure sustainable employment are more likely to make full, timely child support payments and develop stronger relationships with their children. In turn, children who receive the financial support they need from both parents are more likely to avoid poverty and thrive emotionally, physically, and socially. When integrated with fatherhood or parenting initiatives, E&T can also foster healthier co-parenting dynamics and strengthen family bonds.

But realizing these outcomes requires agencies to rethink how they interact with noncustodial parents.

It’s time to reframe the mission

The transition to engagement is an opportunity whose time has come. Nearly 50 years of emphasis on enforcement, often through the court system, didn’t meaningfully address the financial capacity of noncustodial parents. A new focus on support and inclusion allows agencies to reframe their mission and build programs that serve the needs of both parents. By offering services like employment and training, in place of punitive measures, noncustodial parents can increase their earnings and meet their child support obligations — ultimately putting more children and families on the path to lasting economic stability and wellbeing.