March 9, 2001



Mr. Frank Fuentes
Acting Commissioner
Office of Child Support Enforcement
Administration for Children and Families
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
370 L'Enfant Promenade, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20447

RE: Transition Issues and the New Administration

Dear Mr. Fuentes:

The National Council of Child Support Directors (NCCSD) is looking forward to working with you, President Bush, and the new Commissioner of the Office of Child Support Enforcement (OCSE). As we ponder the changes that come with a new administration, NCCSD would like to provide some thoughts about what is working well and to identify some transition issues for the new administration.

The NCCSD is a membership of all of the state and territory IV-D Directors. Our specific purposes are:

  1. To promote the development of legislation and policy that will positively impact the IV-D Programs;
  2. To provide a forum for state IV-D Directors to discuss common problems and solutions associated with program administration, interstate and international issues and federal/state/local relations; and
  3. To provide a medium for communication to address both federal agencies' concerns and issues of the Council.
Mr. Frank Fuentes
March 9, 2001
Page Two

During the past several years, state and territory IV-D Programs have worked very closely with OCSE to build a strong and dynamic Child Support Enforcement Program. Together, we have worked in true partnership. OCSE has provided vision and leadership. OCSE has also implemented a number of significant operational practices and values that NCCSD would like to reinforce and advocate for continuance. They are as follows:

  1. The value of long-term strategic planning;
  2. The value of working in partnership to build an effective IV-D program;
  3. The utilization of federal workgroups to solve problems and brainstorm solutions;
  4. The commitment to research and demonstrations to test and improve operations and public policy;
  5. The sponsorship of forums for stakeholders to confer with IV-D leaders such as the OCSE/NCSL (National Conference of State Legislatures) Legislator Symposium and the OCSE Judicial Symposium;
  6. The operation of model, federal automated systems such as New Hire Reporting and Multistate Financial Institution Data Matching; and
  7. The publication of model information guides such as the Employers Guide and the Financial Institution Guide;

With a commitment to continuous improvement and always with a focus of children first, NCCSD has developed a Top Ten Issues list that we are very interested in working with OCSE towards mutual resolution. The list is attached.




Mr. Frank Fuentes
March 9, 2001
Page Three

I would appreciate your review of our issues and would request an opportunity to meet with you and develop a strategy to address the Top Ten Issues list.

Thank you for your consideration. You may contact me at (804) 692-1501.

Sincerely,

Nick Young
Nick Young, President
NCCSD

NLY:PLB/cro

Enclosure (1)

c:        Members, NCCSD

National Council of Child Support Directors
Top Ten Issues to Address with the New Administration



  • Simplifying distribution
  • Fiscal Issues
    1. Alternatives to penalties and sanctions
    2. Removing the cap on incentives
      1. Federal financial participation for non IV-D payment processing, bad checks and debt adjustments on tax returns
    3. Increase federal financial participation rate in the IV-D Program
  • Improving interstate case management
  • Complete implementation of PRWORA mandates, evaluation and
  • follow-up changes
  • Confidentiality and safeguarding of information
  • Medical support
    Reauthorization coordination with Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and child support
  • Fatherhood initiatives
  • Technology
    1. Technology strategic plan
    2. Simplification of automated systems development and funding
  • Tribal child support