Prairie State Wire

Illinois is marking Child Support Awareness Month this August and celebrating the recent launch of two new initiatives that will benefit children and parents across the state.

Child Support Services (CSS), a division of the Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS), recently launched Family Resource Connections, an initiative designed to support parents by providing individualized solutions to meet their needs and foster better outcomes for families. This program connects parents with various services, including career and training opportunities, veterans' resources, disabled worker programs, domestic violence resources, court and legal help, parent mediation services, and more. The effort is in collaboration with the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) and Central Management Services (CMS).

Additionally, CSS announced last month that all child support collected on behalf of Illinois' low-income families with children who are current or former Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) recipients will be passed through to the family for the care and support of their children. This change took effect on July 1 and benefits all families who currently receive or formerly received TANF. With this change, Illinois becomes the first state in the nation to unconditionally ensure all families receive 100% of the child support paid.

"HFS' Division of Child Support Services provides critical resources to Illinois families, and we are committed to continuing to find ways to better serve customers," Acting HFS Director Elizabeth Whitehorn said. "With the new Family Resource Connections initiative and the recent Child Support pass-through payment rule change, we have a lot to celebrate in Illinois this Child Support Awareness Month."

August is designated Child Support Awareness Month because it marks the anniversary of the establishment of the Child Support Enforcement Program in the Social Security Act of 1975.

In Illinois, CSS provides child support services to approximately 345,000 families with nearly 500,000 children. These services include helping establish parentage, establishing fair child support orders, and enforcing them when necessary. These services are available to anyone who needs them regardless of economic status. During the last state fiscal year, CSS collected more than $1.3 billion on behalf of the families it serves.

CSS has regional child support offices in Aurora, Champaign, Chicago, Collinsville, Joliet, Marion, Peoria, Rockford and Springfield. Each August, CSS employees support organizations with donations to strengthen the communities they serve. This year’s beneficiaries include Lake County Haven Shelter, Luggage of Love, Homer Food Pantry, Boys and Girls Club of Joliet, Caritas Family Solutions, Rock Island's Children's Advocacy Center, Rock House Kids M.E.R.C.Y., Communities Sherman School of Excellence DCFS Foster Children Solid Rock Youth Transitional Services.

For more information on Illinois Child Support Services visit https://hfs.illinois.gov/childsupport.html.