Voices on child support
Vicki Turetsky
Independent consultant; former Commissioner, federal Office of Child Support Enforcement/Services (2009-2017)
The exact words were found in the primary source linked below (testimony, book page, report or article), at the page given.
"Although the original cost recovery function of the child support program has diminished as the TANF caseload has declined, cost recovery policies continue to reduce family income, while discouraging child support payments and increasing the risk of child welfare involvement."
Source
Written Testimony of Vicki Turetsky, hearing "Strengthening Child Support Enforcement for States and Tribes", Subcommittees on Work and Welfare and on Oversight, House Committee on Ways and Means, U.S. House Committee on Ways and Means, 2023-11-29, p. 4 (PDF page 4 of 8; unnumbered) (testimony). Checked 2026-10-13.
Context
The same testimony describes the modern program as a family support program that reduces child poverty and calls for orders based on actual income, reduction of unmanageable debt, employment services, and paying all collected support to families rather than using it to recover public assistance costs.
The passage it comes from
Although the original cost recovery function of the child support program has diminished as the TANF caseload has declined, cost recovery policies continue to reduce family income, while discouraging child support payments and increasing the risk of child welfare involvement.23 Overly punitive child support enforcement has helped drive noncustodial parents away from their children and employment, increased conflict between the parents, and harmed children. They have helped fuel a cycle of poverty and instability for the lowest income families and have had a disproportionate impact on Black, Hispanic, and American Indian families.24
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