--- title: Federal Office of Child Support Enforcement Issues Memo to Guide State Child Support Policy description: Read the recent Information Memorandum (IM) issued by the Office of Child Support Enforcement (OCSE) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. image: https://www.fatherhood.org/hubfs/Images/Blog/NFI_Blog_partner-state-child-support-01.jpg --- [Skip to main content](https://www.fatherhood.org/championing-fatherhood/federal-office-of-child-support-enforcement-issues-memo#main) - [![NFI mark](https://www.fatherhood.org/hubfs/NFI-Assets/images/NFI%20mark.svg)FATHERHOOD.ORG](https://www.fatherhood.org/) - [STORE.FATHERHOOD.ORG](https://store.fatherhood.org/) [![NFI_logo_blue_left (1) 1](https://www.fatherhood.org/hs-fs/hubfs/NFI-Assets/images/NFI_logo_blue_left%20(1)%201.png?width=149&height=82&name=NFI_logo_blue_left%20(1)%201.png) ![NFI_logo_blue_left (1) 1](https://www.fatherhood.org/hs-fs/hubfs/NFI-Assets/images/NFI_logo_blue_left%20(1)%201.png?width=119&height=65&name=NFI_logo_blue_left%20(1)%201.png) ![NFI_logo_blue_left (1) 1](https://www.fatherhood.org/hs-fs/hubfs/NFI-Assets/images/NFI_logo_blue_left%20(1)%201.png?width=119&height=66&name=NFI_logo_blue_left%20(1)%201.png) ![NFI_logo_blue_left (1) 1](https://www.fatherhood.org/hs-fs/hubfs/NFI-Assets/images/NFI_logo_blue_left%20(1)%201.png?width=89&height=49&name=NFI_logo_blue_left%20(1)%201.png) ](https://www.fatherhood.org) - [How To Build Strong Families](https://www.fatherhood.org/build-strong-families) - [Why Father Inclusion Matters](https://www.fatherhood.org/why-father-inclusion-matters) - Show submenu for Get Involved Get Involved - [Fatherhood Programs](https://www.fatherhood.org/solutions/programs-and-resources) - [Train Your Staff](https://www.fatherhood.org/solutions/staff-training) - [State, County, and City Agency Services](https://www.fatherhood.org/solutions/collaborative-services) Open main navigation Close main navigation - Show submenu for Get Informed Get Informed - [How To Build Strong Families](https://www.fatherhood.org/build-strong-families) - [Why Father Inclusion Matters](https://www.fatherhood.org/why-father-inclusion-matters) - [Father Stats & Infographics](https://www.fatherhood.org/father-absence-statistic) - Show submenu for Get Involved Get Involved - [Fatherhood Programs](https://www.fatherhood.org/solutions/programs-and-resources) - [Train Your Staff](https://www.fatherhood.org/solutions/staff-training) - [State, County, and City Agency Services](https://www.fatherhood.org/solutions/collaborative-services) - Show submenu for Get Started Get Started - [Find Your Stage of Father Inclusion](https://www.fatherhood.org/father-inclusion) - [How Father Friendly Is Your Organization?](https://www.fatherhood.org/father-friendly) - [Get In Touch](https://www.fatherhood.org/get-started) [Store](https://store.fatherhood.org/?hsLang=en) [Get In Touch](https://www.fatherhood.org/get-started) [Store](https://store.fatherhood.org/?hsLang=en) Show submenu for Get Started Get Started - [Fatherhood Data & Statistics](https://www.fatherhood.org/father-absence-statistic) - [How Father Friendly is Your Organization?](https://www.fatherhood.org/father-friendly) - [Other Free Resources](https://www.fatherhood.org/nfi-free-resources) - [Talk With us to Get Started](https://www.fatherhood.org/get-started) National Fatherhood Initiative Blog / [Latest Articles](https://www.fatherhood.org/championing-fatherhood) [child support](https://www.fatherhood.org/championing-fatherhood/topic/child-support) # Federal Office of Child Support Enforcement Issues Memo to Guide State Child Support Policy 1 min read ![Christopher A. Brown](https://www.fatherhood.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Images/chris_circle_icon.png?width=100&height=100&name=chris_circle_icon.png) [** Christopher A. Brown ** ](https://www.fatherhood.org/championing-fatherhood/author/christopher-a-brown) Chris serves as the President of National Fatherhood Initiative® (NFI), where he is responsible for overseeing the development and implementation of NFI's strategic plan and business model, as well as its operations and fundraising efforts. ![NFI_Blog_partner-state-child-support-01](https://www.fatherhood.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Images/Blog/NFI_Blog_partner-state-child-support-01.jpg?width=453&name=NFI_Blog_partner-state-child-support-01.jpg) If you’re interested in how your state can relieve the burden of child support debt on the noncustodial dads you serve—and help children and families in the process—I recommend you read the [recent Information Memorandum (IM)](https://www.acf.hhs.gov/css/policy-guidance/family-and-state-benefits-debt-compromise) issued by the Office of Child Support Enforcement (OCSE) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. On August 18th, OCSE issued the IM to help states grasp the challenge faced by parents who owe child support, the vast majority of whom are dads. The IM summarizes the data on child support debt (arrears) and the impact on those who have it. (Warning: it isn’t pretty.) The good news is there are strategies that states can employ to reduce the burden of child support debt—strategies that some states have tested with success. These research-based strategies described in the IM include: - Compromising state-owed debt in which the state or custodial parent forgives the arrears owed - Eliminating imputation of income in which a child support obligation is fixed regardless of the noncustodial parent’s circumstances that affect their ability to pay - Implementing employment services to help the noncustodial parent find a good-paying, stable job to increase the chance they can meet their obligation - Establishing realistic support orders based on the circumstances of the noncustodial parent - Reviewing and modifying support orders so they are realistic throughout the time the noncustodial parent owes support  As the IM notes, its purpose is to improve the impact of the child support program for the benefit of the families involved in it. State child support agencies should take note of the strategies in the IM to improve service to their citizens. For ideas on how states can partner with fatherhood programs to reduce the burden of child support debt on noncustodial dads, read this two-part blog article with examples from [Kansas and Iowa](https://www.fatherhood.org/championing-fatherhood/what-it-takes-for-a-states-child-support-agency-to-partner-with-fatherhood-programs-2). And to understand why a punitive approach to child support doesn’t work and what does work, read this blog article on what [Colorado has done](https://www.fatherhood.org/championing-fatherhood/video-why-punishing-dads-who-owe-child-support-doesnt-work-and-what-does-work). What strategies has your state’s child support program implemented to reduce the burden of child support debt? Has your fatherhood program reached out to your state’s child support agency to explore a partnership to reduce the child support debt on the noncustodial dads you serve?   [![Learn more about the Father Engagement Academy by National Fatherhood Initiative](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/135704/c81321f1-c981-43b7-aa34-e7e2228402a8.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/135704/c81321f1-c981-43b7-aa34-e7e2228402a8) Date Published: 10/04/2022 Last Updated: 10/05/2022 ## Learn How to Build a Fatherhood Program That Works Download this free guide for a proven 7-step roadmap—from making the case and securing funding for your program, to launching and measuring real results! [Get The Guide Now!](https://www.fatherhood.org/starting-a-fatherhood-program) ![7-steps-starting-a-fatherhood_program](https://www.fatherhood.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Images/7-steps-starting-a-fatherhood_program.png?width=700&height=700&name=7-steps-starting-a-fatherhood_program.png) [ Previous ](https://www.fatherhood.org/championing-fatherhood/request-for-applications-insideout-dad-expansion-project) [ Next ](https://www.fatherhood.org/championing-fatherhood/see-how-these-leaders-embraced-father-inclusiveness-in-their-community) ## Related Articles ### [Excellent Primers on the Child Support Program Being able to navigate the child support program is one of the primary challenges faced by non-custodial fathers served by human service organizations. National Fatherhood ... 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