Social Policy Description (social work 258)

1. What is the problem?

Child support is an economic contribution made by a parent to the living expenses of a child who does not live with the parent, due to divorce, separation, or out-of-wedlock birth. Either mothers or fathers may be non-custodial parents and pay child support, but the majority of non-custodial parents are fathers. Since child support payments are not the primary source of income for the majority of recipient families custodial parents are responsible for a disproportionate share of the living expenses for the child. The lack of child support paid creates a problem from the custodial parent, child, and society as a whole.

2. What is the nature of the problem?

Under the present child support enforcement system, few incentives and cost benefits are offered to the custodial parent. Moreover, the personal/economic costs to the absent parent are often very minimal. It is argued that the present system may even encourage family dissolution and parental irresponsibility because the absent parent's economic responsibility can be transferred to the custodial parent and/or society. According to one study, the present system permits 79 percent of absent fathers to avoid child support obligations altogether (Chambers 31). This not only encourages irresponsible behavior, but it also permits a large portion of the responsibility for former children to be shifted to the mother and/or state. This inequity affects mothers because they cannot shift the costs to fathers of earlier children and it also imposes costs on the rest of society.

3. How widespread is it?

The issue of the lack of child support is becoming more significant because of the increasing number of single parent families, especially female-headed single parent families, due to the rise in divorce rates and out-of-wedlock births. More than one million children see their parents divorce or separate each year in the United States, and more than half of all children will spend some time in a single-parent family (Karger & Stoesz, 121). A 1995 Census Bureau study reported that slightly more than half of families with an absent parent have child support orders in place. Of those with orders, half received full payment and half received partial or no payment (121). Consequently, the lack of child support paid to custodial parents is a problem that is becoming increasingly widespread.

4. Who is affected and how?

The social problem created from the lack of child support paid affects custodial parents, children, and society as a whole. More often than not, even if child support payments are received they are not sufficient to support the recipient family. This lack of financial support not only places additional economic burden on the custodial parent, but it also puts the family at greater risk of poverty. According to one study, the families at greatest risk of poverty in the United States are those headed by single mothers (Karger & Stoesz, 120-121). Under the present system, absent parents are not penalized for not paying child support. Because of this, wealthier parents who regard very seriously their duty to provide the most amenities possible for their children are more likely to assume financial responsibility than poor parents. Children also suffer from the lack of child support paid because they are unable to "enjoy the fullest possible benefits to be derived from the resources of both parents" (Chambers 32). Moreover, research shows that children raised with only one biological parent are not only disadvantaged financially, but they are: twice as likely to drop out of school, 2.5 times more likely to become teen mothers, more likely to have lower grade point averages, lower college aspirations, and higher rates of divorce in adulthood compared to children who grow up in two-parent families (Karger & Stoesz, 121). Lastly, since the irresponsible behavior of non-custodial parents can be shifted to the state, society is also affected. In order to help support single-parent families on welfare, additional costs are imposed on society in the form of taxes.

5. What are the causes of the problem?

There are several reasons for the lack of child support paid to custodial parents. First, the majority of non-custodial parents does not pay child support and are not penalized for their absence. Some suggest that the cause is due to the existence of sexual biases that exist in society. There are greater educational, occupational, and financial opportunities for men than women, which make it difficult for single-mothers to support a family. And on average, women are awarded custody more frequently than men. Two other causes of the problem are that some custodial parents choose not to pursue child support and others are simply unable to make payments because they were imprisoned, drug dealers, alcoholics, unemployed, disabled, or otherwise unable to make child support amounts (Karger & Stoesz, 121).

6. What is the lens or how is the author thinking or viewing the problem?

The authors view this social problem as critical theorists because they view children and custodial parents as oppressed and powerless in the present system. The authors believe a policy should be enacted that secures the rights of children to "enjoy the fullest possible benefits to be derived from the resources of both parents" (Chambers 32). Moreover, they believe "priority should be given to earlier families in regard to the father's income, and society should subsidize subsequent families" (Chambers 31). As critical theorists, the authors call for a policy that will provide social justice and a shift of power to the children and custodial parents. By expanding federal involvement in child support payments, the authors hope that the personal resources of custodial parents will no longer be exploited and more equitable sharing of personal responsibility will occur.

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