On a Federal level there are two types of changes that we are requesting be made to the Federal Title IV-D program. Both Administrative and Legislative controls should be put into place to protect taxpayer and family interests.

Legislatively, eligibility requirements should be uniform between Title IV-A and Title IV-D so there is no longer a rush for State IV-D programs to force individuals to participate in their IV-D programs unless applicants meet requirements and actually request services. In addition to similar eligibility restrictions between IV-A and IV-D there should be a requirement of states to have a presumption of substantially similar parental rights and access to their children except in cases of Domestic Violence or clear and convincing evidentiary standards of immediate harm to children. These legislative changes would allow the Title IV-D agencies to focus on providing the necessary safety-net for identified needy families and relieving the burden of over participation that has been caused from the rush of States to increase their revenue from the program. A streamlined agency with focused defined goals would arise from these changes, saving tax-payers billions and strengthening the safety-net for needy families.

Administratively, each state should be denied any additional waivers for pass-thru child-support in addition to their Title IV-A welfare benefits. The Wisconsin demonstration project for passing-thru child support dramatically increases the expense to the federal government and U.S. taxpayers who now would be paying the States for both Title IV-A and Title IV-D without ever seeing any reimbursement. The States say the pass-thru is so successful because it allows the State to not have to pay back any money to the Federal Government, despite Title IV-D’s intention to do exactly that. The purpose and intention of Title IV-D has been to recover expenditures made by State and Federal governments funding of Title IV-A block grants, not as an alternative income source and reward for having a broken home. To allow pass-thru waivers only adds additional incentive to drive up State participation numbers and encourage broken homes, thereby limiting a child’s relationship with one of their parents in order to maintain the current Title IV-D model and despite both parents being fit, willing, and able to raise their children.

Reigning in the Title IV-D program is good for our tax-payers, good for our parents, and most of all… good for our children.