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The Growing Military/Veteran Caseload. Margaret Campbell Haynes Neal Nelson. How Many Service Members are Parents?. DoD Demographics 30,000 unwed soldiers become fathers each year Approx. 44% of active duty and 43% of National Guard/Reserves are parents.
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The Growing Military/Veteran Caseload Margaret Campbell Haynes Neal Nelson
How Many Service Members are Parents? • DoD Demographics • 30,000 unwed soldiers become fathers each year • Approx. 44% of active duty and 43% of National Guard/Reserves are parents
How Many Service Members are in Our Caseload? • OCSE Data (2013) • Just over 100,000 active duty in IV-D caseload • Over 90,000 reservists
How Many Veterans are Parents? • DoD Demographics • 60% of the 23 million veterans are parents • 50% of OIF/OEF veterans are parents
How Many Veterans are in Our Caseload? • OCSE National Data Match • Approx. 5% of 10.7 million noncustodial parents in IV-D caseload are veterans • 50% of states have > 10,000 veterans in their caseload
What do We Know about These Veterans? • OCSE National Data Match • About 50% of veterans in caseload are >50 years old • Many cases are arrears only • Average support amount owed by veterans is about $24,500
OCSE Resources • Assistance to families • Q & A format • Available on website
OCSE Resources • Assistance to child support agencies • Veteran/Military Liaison Network • Fact Sheets
OCSE Resources • Training tools • Trainers Guide for Working with the Military on Child Support Matters • Reference Guide on Working with the Military as an Employer • Policy guidance
State Initiatives • Collaboration to help homeless veterans • CHALENG report • HHS-VA-ABA pilot sites
Partners • At each site the child support agency played major role • Each site had a legal partner • Most sites had a VA or veteran service provider partner • Selection of partners was based on who in that community was already serving the homeless or veterans
How can Child Support Agencies Help Veterans? • Establish arrears management plan • Arrearage forgiveness programs • Realistic payment plans to reduce arrears • Reinstate drivers license • Review order for modification • Review case for closure
Child Support Courts • San Diego hosts in conjunction with Stand Down • Veterans Village coordinates Stand Down • Veterans who apply in advance can participate in criminal and child support courts • Child support agency reviews cases in advance • Thomas Jefferson School of Law Veterans Clinic provides legal representation for veteran • Full courtroom set up in racquetball court • Minneapolis is another example
Collaboration between Child Support and Local Installations • Colorado • 3 year grant • 4 Army and Air Force installations near Colorado Springs • Approaching the bases – How Can We Support Your Mission?
Gaining Access to Installations • Sought Installation Command approval • Arranged meetings with JAG officers to discuss child support procedures • Identified and arranged meetings with service providers • Army Community Service (ACS) • Integrated Delivery Services (IDS) • Domestic Violence Unit • Military Family Life Counselors
Continual Contact • Initial meeting with Service Providers • Provided contact information/child support overview • Educated providers on child support issues and services • Following meetings included: • Ongoing education for service providers who were more prepared to deal with domestic violence and child welfare issues than child support concerns • Deployment and re-deployment briefings to educate large numbers of service members regarding child support
Services for Service Members • Direct child support services offered regularly through onsite services at installations • Extended services through community partners • Web based link for military members on local and state child support websites • Parent Time / Mediation services • Employment / Housing assistance • Referrals to Community and Veteran Agencies
Child Support and Military Collaborations • Delaware • National Guard and Reserves • Yellow Ribbon Pre-Deployment and 30-Day Reintegration briefings • Texas HEROES Project • Judge Advocate General/Legal Assistance office • Military & Family Life Consultant • Family Advocacy Program • Social Workers on base/post
Collaborations between Child Support and VA/Veteran Service Providers • Massachusetts • Compensate Work Therapy (CST) Partership • Model is the basis for a national OCSE Dear Colleague Letter – DCL 05-24, available at: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/css/resource/veterans-affairs-compensated-work-therapy-initiative • Texas • Veterans Justice Outreach (VJO) • Veteran Legal Clinics • US Dept of Veterans Affairs Vet Centers • Specialized programs
Contact Information • Margaret Campbell Haynes • mhaynes@csfmail.org • 240-743-8007 • Neal Nelson • Neal.nelson@dfas.mil • 216-522-5118