Child Support Performance Data: A Five-Year Baseline


 

Publication Date: January 1998

Publisher: Center for Law and Social Policy

Author(s):

Research Area: Social conditions

Type: Brief

Coverage: United States

Abstract:

CLASP conducted a state-by-state analysis of key program trends between 1991 and 1995 in an effort to find out whether the child support (IV-D) program improved over the five year period. Our analysis looked at key performance indicators, caseload trends, program expenditures, and staffing ratios. Because of the wide variations in state demographics and data quality, we compared the performance of each state to itself over time. By focusing on time line trends, we could look at improvements or declines in each state’s performance during the five year period. This paper summarizes nationwide trends in child support program performance between 1991 and 1995.