United States Government Publishing Office publisher pbl distributor dst United States Government Accountability Office Accounting and Information Management Division author aut Government Organization text government publication eng GAOREPORTS Legislative Agency Publications gao legislative 2010-08-12 U.S. Government Printing Office 1997-06-30 monographic deposited born digital 83 p. GA 1.13:AIMD-97-72 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-AIMD-97-72 P0b002ee1803a3f0c f:ai97072 DGPO 2010-08-12 2011-03-24 GAOREPORTS-AIMD-97-72 machine generated eng fdlp REPORT GAOREPORTS-AIMD-97-72 AIMD-97-72 Child support payments Federal/state relations Strategic information systems planning Requirements definition Law enforcement information systems Systems design Systems evaluation State programs Computer software HHS Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program AFDC Aid to Families with Dependent Children Program HHS Child Support Enforcement Program HHS State System Approval Information System Chapter Report AIMD Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO updated its 1992 report on child support enforcement, focusing on: (1) the status of state development efforts, including costs incurred; (2) whether the Department of Health and Human Services had implemented GAO's 1992 recommendations; and (3) whether the Department was providing effective federal oversight of state systems development activities.<p/>GAO noted that: (1) it is too early to judge the potential of fully developed automated systems, yet bringing the benefits of automation to bear on child support enforcement appears to have played a major role in locating more noncustodial parents and increasing collections; (2) according to HHS, in fiscal year (FY) 1995, almost $11 billion was collected, 80 percent higher than the amount collected in 1990; (3) while automated state child support systems are being developed, many may not be certified by the October 1, 1997, deadline; (3) furthermore, states have underestimated the magnitude, complexity, and costs of their systems projects; (4) systems development costs for FY 1995 alone were just under $600 million, and over $2.6 billion has been spent since 1980 for county and statewide systems development; (5) GAO's 1992 report discussed significant problems in federal oversight and monitoring of state activity, and made three recommendations; (6) however, only one has been completely implemented; (7) the Office of Child Support Enforcement (OCSE) now works with its audit division to identify and resolve systems problems; (8) GAO's recommendations to suspend federal funding when major problems exist and to require states to initiate corrective actions when problems are first identified were only partially addressed; (9) OCSE's oversight of state child support systems has been narrowly focused and, as a result, not effective or timely in assessing the states' systems approaches and progress; (10) OCSE believes it lacks the technical expertise and resources to be involved at critical points in the systems development process; (11) OCSE's role has been primarily limited to document review and after-the-fact certification when the states request an inspection of completed systems; (12) therefore, OCSE has allowed some funds to be spent without ensuring that states were progressing toward effective or efficient systems; (13) while OCSE has shared some lessons learned, its oversight has operated on a state-by-state basis; (14) lacking this nationwide perspective has hindered the agency's ability to provide proactive leadership to the states; (15) as added systems functional requirements of the newly enacted welfare reform legislation come into play, it will be increasingly important that child support enforcement systems work as envisioned and that OCSE monitor progress on a broader scale; and (16) * https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-AIMD-97-72/html/GAOREPORTS-AIMD-97-72.htm https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-AIMD-97-72/pdf/GAOREPORTS-AIMD-97-72.pdf GAO/AIMD-97-72 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-AIMD-97-72 Chapter Report GAO/AIMD-97-72; Child Support Enforcement: Strong Leadership Required to Maximize Benefits of Automated Systems; Child support payments Federal/state relations Strategic information systems planning Requirements definition Law enforcement information systems Systems design Systems evaluation State programs Computer software HHS Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program AFDC Aid to Families with Dependent Children Program HHS Child Support Enforcement Program HHS State System Approval Information System Public Law 96-265 Public Law 100-485 Public Law 104-35 Title 45 Part 307.40 45 CFR Part 307.40