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"In Illinois we are thinking and acting outside the box to make sure
that our children and the parents raising them have the financial
support they need," said Blagojevich. "The success of the Deadbeat
Parent Web site shows that noncustodial parents are getting the
message that if you are a parent who is not meeting your child
support obligations, there will be consequences for your actions."
Payments attributed to the Deadbeat Parent site are those made by
individuals as a result of having their profiles posted on the site.
The site is used as a last-resort mechanism to collect unpaid child
support from the individuals who owe the largest amounts of unpaid
child support and who otherwise would not make payments. Parents
whose photos are featured on the site,
www.ilchildsupport.com/deadbeats,
owe more than $5,000 in past-due child support based on an Illinois
court or administrative order. Some parents on the site owe hundreds
of thousands of dollars in unpaid support. The information is
publicized with the consent or at the request of the custodial
parent involved.
"Having your picture available over the Internet as a notice to
the world that you do not support your children is powerful
incentive to make payments on back child support. Much of this
$500,000 has been collected due to parents' shame at being on the
Deadbeat Parent Web site. This Web site has been a wonderful tool in
helping the department fulfill our mission to improve the lives of
children across Illinois," said Illinois Department of Healthcare
and Family Services Director Barry S. Maram.
Blaine Ozment was featured on the site after he moved out of
state, leaving a child support debt of more than $40,000. After
posting his profile on the Deadbeat Parent site, the Department of
Healthcare and Family Services received a tip detailing his current
residence. He is now making regular payments for his child.
"It's not just the Web site, to be perfectly honest. It's all the
services the state offers," said Tammy Elliott, who had a child with
Ozment. "For the longest time, I couldn't get any support out of my
ex. It was through the services that the state provided that he
finally realized that this was serious. He has been making payments
consistently over the last year, and I think it's really helpful
that when you Google his name, the first thing you see is the
Deadbeat Parents Web site."
Since Blagojevich took office, the online site is one of many
innovative steps taken to make sure children and custodial parents
receive the child support they need. In February the governor
announced a partnership between the Department of Healthcare and
Family Services and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources,
under which deadbeat parents must resolve unpaid child support debt
before they are able to purchase hunting or fishing licenses.
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Last month, the Department of Healthcare and Family Services
announced a joint effort with Secretary of State Jesse White in
suspending driver's licenses for parents who fail to pay child
support. These changes have helped produce results. In fiscal 2007,
the Illinois child support collections reached $1.22 billion, an
increase of more than 7 percent from the $1.14 billion
record-breaking collections for the state in fiscal 2006. In 2001,
by comparison, $726 million was collected.
As a result, Illinois is being recognized as a national leader in
child support enforcement. In September 2007, Illinois was honored
by the federal Office of Child Support Enforcement with a
Commissioner's Award of Excellence for High Performance. This award
recognizes Illinois for performance in all areas of the national
strategic plan for child support. In August 2006, Illinois was named
the 2006 Most Improved Program in the country by the National Child
Support Enforcement Association. The NCSEA recognizes outstanding
achievements in child support enforcement, and the 2006 award was
given to the Illinois program for its increased collections and new
programs. Seven years ago, Illinois was ranked among the worst
programs in the country.
Child support enforcement services are available to any parent
who needs assistance in establishing legal parentage, establishing
child support or medical support, or enforcing support. Some
enforcement tools, like interception of income tax refunds, are
available only to customers of the child support enforcement
program. To register for free child support enforcement services,
parents must complete and sign an application. Applications are
available online at
http://www.ilchildsupport.com/ or by calling 1-800-447-4278.
[Text from file received from
the
Illinois Office of
Communication and Information] |
