Department of Public Welfare Honored for Innovative Technology that Connects Vulnerable Children with Needed Child Support

HARRISBURG, Pa., June 11, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Pennsylvania's national leadership in connecting children with vital child support has been enhanced with a first-of-its kind computer application that has earned national recognition, Department of Public Welfare Secretary Gary D. Alexander announced.

"The national recognition for this software exemplifies our department's tremendous commitment to helping parents meet their financial commitments to their children," Alexander said. "Ultimately, this innovation is about protecting our most vulnerable citizens, and making sure their needs are being met to help them live healthy and safe lives."

DPW's Child Support Enforcement Bureau developed the software to assist county caseworkers in better identifying parents who are at a greater risk of not paying child support. Pennsylvania is the only U.S. state to have a predictive modeling solution implemented in this way for child support enforcement.

Early identification through the use of the score calculator has proven to be a successful tool to help parents meet their financial obligations to children. Based on the score generated by this application, the county caseworker can follow a prescribed series of steps to help prevent a payment from becoming delinquent, including rapid follow-up conferencing, phone call reminders, expedited enforcement conferences and mandatory job searches.

"The primary challenge of the child support enforcement program is to ensure that child support is a consistent, reliable source of income for families that they can depend on to meet their daily living expenses," Alexander said. "The use of predictive analysis contributes to securing financial stability for children."

Named by the Global Information Technology Awards Foundation as a 2012 Laureate Medal Winner for developing this software innovation, the Department of Public Welfare Bureau of Child Support Enforcement was recognized at a June 4 awards ceremony in Washington, D.C.

For more information about the Department of Public Welfare, visit the department's website at www.dpw.state.pa.us. To report suspected welfare fraud, call 1-800-932-0582.

Media contact: Anne Bale or Donna Kirker Morgan, 717-425-7606

SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare