State Honored for Child Support Efforts with Parents Under Criminal Justice Supervision

• by New York State Office of Temporary & Disability Assistance

The State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) today announced that it has received national recognition for its Child Support Prisoner Re-Entry Initiative from the National Child Support Enforcement Association (NCSEA). The initiative was designed to help noncustodial parents under criminal justice supervision effectively uphold their child support obligations as they transition back into the community.

NCSEA selected OTDA as the recipient of its 2009 Excellence Award for Program Awareness, which recognizes the effectiveness of media relations and public outreach in disseminating child support program information to the public. OTDA's activities include interagency collaborations with the State Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) and the State Division of Probation and Correctional Alternatives (DPCA) focused on staff training, information/data sharing, targeted outreach, and pilot initiatives.

"Individuals re-entering the community after a period of incarceration are faced with many issues and obstacles as they attempt to reunite with their families and find employment," said Kristin Proud, Deputy Secretary for Human Services, Technology and Operations, who is currently overseeing OTDA. "For noncustodial parents, this includes the obligation of timely and consistent child support payments. By helping these noncustodial parents address the issues of child support, we are not only increasing the likelihood that they will contribute to the well-being of their children, but also the likelihood of a successful transition back into our communities. This is an example of successful collaboration between State agencies to help improve the lives of families in New York."

"Programs that support and foster family reunification are a critical component to successful re-entry, and successful re-entry is critical to public safety," said Deputy Secretary for Public Safety Denise E. O'Donnell, who also serves as DCJS commissioner. "This multi-agency initiative provides noncustodial parents with the help and support they need so that they can make a successful transition back into their children's lives, and to their communities. By investing in these types of programs, we strengthen families, and in turn, make our communities stronger and safer."

"DPCA congratulates OTDA for receiving national recognition of its collaborative initiative to improve child support collection among individuals involved in the criminal justice system," said Robert Maccarone, State Director of Probation and Correctional Alternatives. "DPCA, local probation departments and community correction programs have worked with OTDA to improve support collection which has led to greater offender accountability, including initiatives such as job readiness and retention skills and efforts to strengthen record sharing between community correction agencies and OTDA. These measures have benefitted families and communities across New York State as criminal justice-involved individuals that take responsibility for their child support obligations and maintain employment are more likely to change their behavior and lead law-abiding lives."

In a letter notifying OTDA of the award, which was presented at the Annual NCSEA Board meeting, NCSEA Executive Director Colleen Delaney Eubanks said, New York's program is "an excellent example of the type of innovative and collaborative program NCSEA encourages child support agencies to consider in order to assist in strengthening the support and assistance offered to families."

An important goal of the initiative is to provide formerly-incarcerated noncustodial parents an incentive to reconnect with their children once they are released. Studies continually show that children are more likely to enjoy success in all aspects of life when there is involvement from both parents.

###