Home > News Releases > Wisconsin’s Outstanding Performance earns state almost $16 million

Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development News Release
Thursday, November 20, 2003 Governor Jim Doyle Secretary Roberta Gassman	News Media Contact Teresa Weidemann-Smith 608/266-3999 e-mail: news@dwd.state.wi.us fax: 608/266-1784

Wisconsin’s Outstanding Performance earns state almost $16 million

State’s Child Support Program ranks as one of the top performers

MADISON – Department of Workforce Development (DWD) Secretary Roberta Gassman announced today that the Wisconsin Child Support Program earned more than $15.9 million for its outstanding performance during the 2002 federal fiscal year (October 1, 2001 to September 30, 2002). Wisconsin’s performance award was the ninth largest despite being ranked 22^nd in the 2002 census estimate.

"This award is due to the hard work and dedication of local county child support workers and state staff at DWD’s Bureau of Child Support. Their efforts translate into more money for families in need," stated Gassman.

The federal Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) awards incentive funding to the nation’s 54 child support programs based on five specific performance standards. Wisconsin performance for the five standards was:

• 3rd in child support collection rate of 72.7%, compared to the national average of 57.6%
• 4^th in paternity establishment rate of 94.5%, compared to the national average of 84% (paternity must be established for children born to unmarried couples before a court can order child support)
• 8^th in cost effectiveness (dollars collected versus dollars spent) collecting $6.11 for every dollar spent, compared to a national average of $4.13
• 15^th in court order establishment rate of 79%, compared to the national average of 70%
• 24^th in the arrears (past-due support) collection rate of 61%, compared to the national average of 59.7%

Child support programs that earned more funding than Wisconsin were California, Texas, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Michigan, Florida and New Jersey. All of these states have significantly larger populations and child support caseloads, but only Pennsylvania topped Wisconsin’s performance rankings.

DHHS will soon publish chart depicting the performance scores of the 54 child support programs at http://www.acf.dhhs.gov/programs/cse/.

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Content Contact: Teresa Weidemann-Smith

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