Congress established the Child Support Enforcement Program in 1975

The program's goal is to ensure that all children are supported financially by both parents and to reduce the number of children receiving public assistance.

The increase in the rate of divorce, separation and out-of-wedlock births has been dramatic in the United States. There are more than one million children in Ohio who are entitled to child support.

The Child Support program is a joint effort involving federal, state and local agencies administered in Ohio by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, Office of Child Support (OCS)

Structure of Child Support in Ohio

The responsibility for implementation of the Child Support (IV-D) program is shared by federal, state and local agencies, each with clearly defined roles. The federal agency responsible for child support enforcement is the Office of Child Support Enforcement (OCSE) which is located in the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). It establishes standards for state programs. In Ohio, the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) is the designated IV-D agency and within ODJFS, the Office of Child Support has the primary responsibility for the child support program. Each county in Ohio is required to establish a separate child support enforcement agency (CSEA). Thus, responsibility for the child support program in Ohio is shared by the state and each of Ohio's 88 counties.

Local Child Support Enforcement Agencies

Child support services, such as those listed below, shall be available to all OWF(Ohio Works First) Medicaid, or IV-E foster care applicants or recipients upon referral, and to any other person upon request.

Services provided through the CSEAs include:

Location of non-custodial parentsPaternity tablishment Establishment and enforcement of child support orders Establishment and enforcement of medical support orders Review and modification of support orders

State Office of Child Support Within the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, the Office of Child Support oversees the child support program operations and acts as an advisor to the CSEAs on policy and technical issues.

The Office is divided into Bureaus with distinct responsibilities relative to ensuring compliance with state and federal rules.