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Despite benefitting more than 13.5 million children in 2021, child support services can be difficult to navigate. Parenthood, finances, employment, and family dynamics can all be complex and connected, and the average parent shouldn’t have to navigate all of this alone. This is where child support case managers can be a huge asset.
Child support case managers are caseworkers, typically employed by county or municipal governments, who help families understand and utilize the child support system. These case managers advocate on behalf of children and their families to ensure everyone has the resources they need.
Child support case managers’ duties
Child support case managers are expected to be experts in their craft — up to date on regulatory standards, local family services programs, and the unique circumstances of each case. Part detective, part lawyer, and part social worker, these case managers serve as a liaison between parents, social services providers, and judicial authorities working together on behalf of children.
Child support case managers are integral to every step of applying for and receiving child support. Some of their duties include:
- Establishing parentage
- Locating noncustodial parents
- Interviewing parents and their attorneys
- Negotiating support orders and settlements between parents
- Analyzing financial affidavits
- Preparing documentation for court hearings
- Preparing garnishment papers and working with employers
- Testifying in court during child support hearings
Collecting and sharing case information
Nearly 15 million active child support cases in 2016 created a great deal of information to be stored and shared by child support case managers. Information relevant to an ongoing child support case can relate to the parents — such as income, cost of living, and work history — or to the child, including physical and developmental disabilities, childcare costs, and medical records. All of this information must be gathered, collated, and stored securely in a streamlined, accessible way. Case data must be organized and digestible so all parties can understand and communicate clearly with one another. The parents’ obligations and goals must be stated, shared, and tracked to confirm that they are complying with judicial orders. Complex and overlapping data sets may be used to build reports to inform decisions or be presented in court hearings.Child support software like CaseWorthy can help
Child support case managers can use case management software to store, track, and share all of this information with appropriate parties. Powerful, customizable software like CaseWorthy’s can streamline case managers’ processes so they can do more and better serve their clients. With CaseWorthy, you can sort and organize data by the individual client, family, and more so case managers can view client data at macro and micro levels.
Some helpful features for child support case managers include:
Level of care determinations
The first step in providing care and support in just about any scenario is determining what kind and how much help is needed. In child support cases, this can include the cost of child care or medical care for the child. However, from a case management standpoint, this can also include the custodial parent of the child. By assessing and recording both the parent’s and the child’s necessary “level of care,” they can become eligible for benefits beyond monetary child support payments — improving the entire family unit’s circumstances and well-being.
Easy check-ins for schools and appointments
Having accurate, verifiable data about a child’s day-to-day activities and appointments can help paint a picture of the required amount or cost of care. Suppose a parent claims they need financial support for educational services, daycare, or medical care. In that case, it helps to have a timestamped record of where the custodial parent and child have gone. Client check-ins can be completed through CaseWorthy’s client portal from any smartphone or tablet with internet access — plus, we have barcode-scanning capabilities that make it even easier.
Referral network
When working with single parents in need of financial support, you will often grow a network of local or regional programs and organizations willing to help. Whether teaming up with Health and Human Services or local nonprofits, child support caseworkers can easily provide support to their clients beyond court-mandated payments by simply fostering connections. CaseWorthy can give local groups and specialists access to information on clients’ needs so they can receive the best support possible.
Case note functionality
Recording and storing robust data about child support cases can be a boon for case managers carrying heavy caseloads. But families, relationships, and children’s well-being can’t always be summed up with numbers. The ability to attach case notes to a client’s file or data can provide relevant context for those agencies and individuals involved in the case. The more information everyone has about a case, the better equipped they will be to ensure the child receives the support they need.
The regulations and requirements for child support case management varies from city to city, so we’ve made sure everyone can configure our software to meet their local, specific needs. CaseWorthy’s case management software was built to be fully customizable, so individuals and teams can utilize the features they need in whatever way they prefer.
