Attorney General Ken Paxton announced that his office’s Child Support Division (CSD) received the National Child Support Enforcement Association’s (NCSEA) “Innovative Partnership/Collaboration Award.” This prestigious award, presented at the NCSEA Leadership Symposium, recognizes innovations in the partnership between a child support agency and any other groups that assist families. On August 1, the CSD was honored for its collaboration with the Texas Council on Family Violence (TCFV) to enhance the safety of child support services in cases involving the threat of domestic violence.
“Parents fleeing abusive situations may be reluctant to seek child support because they fear retaliation or renewed contact with the other parent,” said Attorney General Paxton. “I’m proud that our Child Support Division has worked so diligently to ensure that custodial parents can safely receive the support their children need and deserve. This national award is richly deserved for everyone involved – from CSD Director Mara Friesen to the dedicated staff and attorneys who work tirelessly to improve outcomes for Texas families.”
Since 2008, the CSD has worked with TCFV to develop outreach materials and training programs for family violence survivors and advocates. Among other innovations, these joint efforts led to the development of the GetChildSupportSafely.org website, changes to safety procedures for court appearances and a child support toolkit for advocates of domestic violence.
In accepting her award during the symposium in New Orleans, Friesen said, “I would like to dedicate this award to all of the victims and survivors of family violence and their children, who not only deserve financial support, but more importantly, deserve a life free from violence.”
The Texas Attorney General’s Child Support Division is the most successful and cost-effective program in the nation. The division handles 1.5 million child support cases, serving 1.7 million children. The division collects $12.26 for every $1 spent to operate the program and collected $3.8 billion in child support in Federal FY 2015.
For more information about the attorney general’s office and the child support services it offers, visit the agency’s website at www.texasattorneygeneral.gov.