The Tennessee Department of Human Services Child Support Program is joining others across the nation in recognizing August as Child Support Awareness Month. Child Support Awareness Month represents a time to raise awareness of the services available through the program and the positive impact it can have on families and children in Tennessee.
During state fiscal year 2016, Tennessee’s Child Support Program served nearly 550,000 children and distributed over $643 million in child support on behalf of these children. While providing these services, Tennessee’s Child Support Program is ranked nationally as one of the top five state programs in cost effectiveness, according to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Child Support Enforcement data.
“Tennessee’s Child Support Program has an intentional focus on providing services for the whole family that increases the availability of needed resources to children,” said DHS Commissioner Dr. Raquel Hatter. “We encourage Tennesseans to familiarize themselves with child support services should they need them, both custodial and non-custodial parents. Child Support is an important resource in supporting the effort to build stronger families, stronger communities and a stronger Tennessee.”
In recognition of Child Support Awareness Month, during the first week of August, several prominent buildings and structures across the state will be lit in green, the color symbolizing child support awareness. Gov. Bill Haslam has also proclaimed August as Child Support Awareness Month in Tennessee.
“We are committed to providing family centered services and appreciate our partners across the state as we work together to positively impact the lives of families and children,” said Charles Bryson, assistant commissioner for the Division of Family Assistance and Child Support Services.
The child support program offers a variety of services that support children and families. Services include locating a child’s parent(s) for the purpose of obtaining support or establishing paternity; establishment of paternity; establishment and enforcement of child support orders; establishment and enforcement of medical support; collection and distribution of child support payments; modification of child support orders; and enforcement of spousal support orders, if child support is involved.
Citizens are encouraged to contact their local child support office if they are in need of these services.
For more information on the Tennessee Child Support Program, visit: <www.tn.gov/humanservices/topic/child-support-services>.
