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| Why Michigan Needs a Strong Child Support Program |
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Mothers and fathers bring different qualities to a child's life and each is equally
important. All children need two parents, whether they live together or not. The
Office of Child Support is committed to working with families to ensure that children
receive the support they need from both parents.
We need child support because ...
- More children rely on the child support program than any other State program,
with the exception of the public school system
- The Michigan child support program distributed over $1.4 billion in fiscal
year 2006
- Approximately half of all children spend time in a single-parent home
- Children supported by both parents are 3 times less likely to become teen
parents and 2 times less likely to drop out of school, to engage in alcohol
or substance abuse or to become involved in the criminal justice system
- Millions of American children live in poverty, and most of these children
are living in single-parent households
Child support benefits children because ...
- Non custodial parents who pay child support are more likely to remain involved
in their child's life
- Payment of child support decreases conflict between parents
Child support benefits the State because ...
- States become surrogate guardians for children with problems; families who
receive child support have fewer problems and less need for State funded programs.
- Immediate savings are realized as families become less reliant on public
assistance (TANF, food stamps and Medicaid)
- In fiscal year 2006 Michigan child support program collected over $39 million
for TANF families, over $448 million for former TANF families and over $279
million for families on Medicaid.
- The program is very cost effective. In fiscal year 2006 for every dollar
spent, the program collected $5.29 for families.
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