DCYF Ends Child Support Collection Referrals on Parents Involved in Child Welfare
Olympia, WA – Effective Sept. 1, 2022, the Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) has stopped the outdated and harmful practice of referring parents to child support collection after a child is placed into foster care. This makes Washington State one of the first states in the country to put an end to child support collections that cause financial hardship for parents and keep children in foster care longer.
Historically, when a child was placed into foster care, parents were automatically referred to the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) Division of Child Support to begin collection efforts. When parents paid child support, DCYF was required to use the money to reimburse itself for the cost of caring for the child in foster care.
Under new federal guidance, DCYF is partnering with DSHS to stop unnecessary child support enforcement actions that, according to one study, may increase the time a child remains in foster care, drastically decreasing reunification rates.
“We know that most parents are already facing financial hardships when they come into contact with the child welfare system,” said DCYF Secretary Ross Hunter. “This old and misguided policy only deepened that hardship and made it harder for parents to get their kids home.”
The change in practice will also save money over time. A DSHS cost-effectiveness study showed that Washington collected only $0.39 on these cases for each dollar spent trying to collect.
Earlier this year, Washington State ended a similar practice of charging families for their child’s incarceration, known as parent pay.
Removing the child support collection for families involved in the child welfare system aligns with DCYF’s Strategic and Racial Equity Plan to eliminate racial disproportionalities and advance racial equity, safely reduce the number of children in out-of-home care, and improve the quality and intention of our practice.
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Contact:
Jason Wettstein, Director of Communications | jason.wettstein@dcyf.wa.gov | 360-464-0294
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