Responsible Payers Program

About the Program

Category: Human Services (Best in Category)

Year: 2014

The Responsible Payers Program (RPP) was established to identify and address barriers preventing non-custodial parents from making their regular court ordered child support payments. After shifting our approach on these “tough to handle” cases and offering resources intended to remove barriers and incentives for program participation rather than additional penalties for an inability to pay, we have seen a vast change in both our client’s ability to pay support, and the development of positive working relationships with our clientele. Through a more “hands-on” approach with our difficult cases, we are able to help overcome any barriers to getting support to families, such as employment services, education, and additional county resources to get non-custodial parties back on their feet. Our willingness to change our processes and procedures has proved that even the more demanding county departments can give back to their clients and attain our vision of providing the best in public service. The population of support clients who have participated in the program started with having paid nothing in most cases for their child support for several months and –in some cases- even years. At enrollment, 84% of participants were paying 0-24% of their monthly support amount. Upon exit, 58% of those same participants were paying 75% to 100% of their monthly amount. Of the eight participants upon exit that were still paying 0%, three were legally disabled.