The NonCustodial Parent as Customer: Patterns of Receipt, Contact, and NonCash Assistance

1
The Non-Custodial Parent as Customer Patterns of
Receipt, Contact, and NonCash Assistance

• Presented by
• Sarah Douglas (ASPE)
• September 11th, 2006
• 16th National CSE Training Conference

DHHS /OS/ ASPE
2
Research Questions

• How involved are non-custodial parents in IV-D
  families?
• Is the level of involvement by the non-custodial
  parent related to child support receipt?

DHHS /OS/ ASPE
3
Data Strengths and Limitations

• Survey data collected by Census.
• Emphasis on demographic and income data.
• Limited to families where one biological parent
  in the home.
• Indirect allocation of IVD status.
• No state level data.
• Co-sponsored by Census and OCSE

DHHS /OS/ ASPE
4
Characteristics of IV-D Families

• Caseload primarily low-income.
• Medicaid is now the major welfare component.
• 50 white and 25 black.
• ¾ live in the same state.
• Most custodial parents never married or are
  divorced.
• Just under half (47) have an agreement and are
  receiving child support.
• Around ¼ have an agreement but did not receive
  CS.
• Many, but not all, families without an agreement
  do not receive CS.

DHHS /OS/ ASPE
5
Receipt of Child Support

• 49 of IV-D Families Received Child Support.
• Of those Receiving Child Support, 3,736 was the
  Average Amount.
• Median Amount was 2,640.

6
IV-D Families with a Child Under 18 Reporting on
the Amount of Contact with the NCP

• CP asked whether or not the child spent at least
  one day with the NCP during the year.
• 64 indicated at least one day of contact.
• 27 reported 1-29 days w/ child Low.
• 20 reported 30-99 days w/ child Moderate.
• 17 reported 100 or more days w/ child High.
• Average number of days spent with child is 71.

DHHS /OS/ ASPE
7
Percent of NCPs in Contact with Childby
Background Characteristics
DHHS /OS/ ASPE
8
Percent of NCPs in Contact with Child, by Race
DHHS /OS/ ASPE
9
Percent of NCPs in Contact with Child by Child
Support Variables
DHHS /OS/ ASPE
10
Contact and Child Support Receipt

• Families in contact were more likely to receive
  child support than those not in contact.
• Child support receipt was highest for those in
  moderate contact. (60)
• Low contact and high contact had similar rates
  only slightly lower than moderate. (57 and 56,
  respectively)
• No contact dramatic drop.
• Only 35 received any child support.

DHHS /OS/ ASPE
11
Percent of NCPs Providing Non-Cash Assistance
17 received one type 13 received two types
and 25 received three or more types of non-cash
assistance.
DHHS /OS/ ASPE
12
Percent of NCPs Providing Non-Cash Assistance by
Background Characteristics and Types of Assistance
DHHS /OS/ ASPE
13
Percent of NCPs Providing Non-Cash Support, by
Race
DHHS /OS/ ASPE
14
Percent of NCPs Providing Non-Cash Assistance by
Child Support Variables and Differing Types of
Assistance
DHHS /OS/ ASPE
15
Non-Cash Assistance and Child Support Receipt

• Families receiving non-cash support were more
  likely to receive child support.
• NCPs providing 1 or 2 types of non-cash
  assistance were most likely to provide CS. (61,
  63)
• Families receiving 3 or more types had much lower
  rates. (54)
• The absence of non-cash support matters.
• Only 39 received any child support.

DHHS /OS/ ASPE
16
Summary

• 17 of NCPs were highly involved with 64 in
  contact for at least one day.
• 54 of NCPs provided non-cash assistance.
• 1/3 of those with visitation provided 3 or more
  types of non-child support assistance.
• Child support receipt, contact and non-cash
  assistance appear related.
• Although the direction and precise nature of the
  relationship is not yet known.

DHHS /OS/ ASPE
17
Next Steps

• Expand research analysis to look at the
  independent effect involvement variables may have
  on child support receipt.
• Look at how family income levels may differ based
  on involvement characteristics.
• Create a measure of involvement that incorporates
  contact and noncash assistance, possibly receipt.

DHHS /OS/ ASPE
18
Contact Information

• Sarah Douglas
• E-mail sarah.douglas_at_hhs.gov
• Phone [phone]

DHHS /OS/ ASPE