National Child Support Noncustodial Parent Employment Demonstration Projects

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The Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Office of Child Support Enforcement (OCSE) invites eligible applicants to submit competitive grant applications to develop and implement programs that provide employment services to noncustodial parents in the child support system as part of a national demonstration framework. These child support-led employment programs will include the following components: 1) case management; 2) employment-oriented services that include job placement and retention services; 3) fatherhood/parenting activities using peer support; and 4) child support order modification, programs to reduce child support debt owed to the state, and help with parenting plans. Incentives to encourage noncustodial parents to work and pay child support are also of interest. This grant program will run over a 60-month project period with five 12-month budget periods. Over the five year project period, the first year will be a planning year devoted to start-up and development of the program design, services will be provided for a three year period, and the final year will be dedicated to evaluation, close-out, and sustainability work. Grantees will not be required to conduct their own evaluation but must fully participate in an OCSE national cross-site evaluation; it is likely that random assignment of potential participants into treatment and control groups will be required. The evaluator will provide evaluation-related guidance and assistance to the demonstration grantees.

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