Maintaining Success in
Enforcing Child Support
in Pennsylvania
Annual Domestic Relations Directors’ Conference
Hinz Center — Robb Hall
Penn State University
May 19, 2009
David L. Passmore
Penn State Professor of
Education & Operations Research

Slides summarizing this
presentation
Links to child support
references on the web
Links to information
about maintaining
organizational
effectiveness
Links to work of Penn
State Workforce
Education &
Development Initiative
Background information about maintaining enforcement of child support

You have performed
extraordinarily well to
ensure children
receive the financial &
medical support to
which they are entitled

 Received Office of Child Support Enforcement
Commissioner’s Award for High Performance for
federal fiscal year 2007
 Second time Pennsylvania has achieved this award

 Parentage—100% paternity establishment
 Support orders—88% support order establishment
 Medical coverage—82% compliance ratio to secure
medical support orders and 83% of enforcement of
orders
 Financial support—78% collection of current support
and 76% collection of arrears
 Efficiency—Cost effectiveness ratio of $6.58

Need a deeper
understanding of basis
for success
• Dedicated, competent,
caring people?
• Excellent leadership?
• Organization? Processes?

Often difficult process
that requires strategy
development
• Performers rarely can
articulate and explain
adequately
• Excellent leadership?
• Organization? Processes?
• Organization? Processes?

Four strategic
actions possible
• Want something, but don’t
have it? Achieve!
• Want something you already
have? Preserve!
• Do not have something & do
not want it? Avoid!
• Have something & do not
want it? Eliminate!
http://nickols-goalsgrid.notlong.com

Maintaining Success in
Enforcing Child Support
in Pennsylvania
Annual Domestic Relations Directors’Conference
Hinz Center — Robb Hall
Penn State University
May 19, 2009
David L. Passmore
Penn State Professor of
Education & Operations Research