Pennsylvania, a National Leader in Child Support Collections, Marks 'Child Support Enforcement Awareness Month'

HARRISBURG, Pa., Aug. 2 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Governor Edward G. Rendell has proclaimed August as Child Support Enforcement Awareness Month, noting that Pennsylvania is a national leader in child support enforcement and collections.

Pennsylvania is a national leader in the percentage of child support collected and has among the lowest administration costs for child support collection of any state. For every dollar in administrative costs incurred, Pennsylvania collects $6.71 in child support – a collection rate that is 40 percent better than the national average, according to Public Welfare Secretary Harriet Dichter.

"Pennsylvania's children need and deserve not just emotional support, but also the critical financial support that allows them to thrive and reach their fullest potential," Dichter said. "By raising awareness of the need for child support and enforcement, we not only help these children, but we also recognize the hard work and dedication of those who work to make sure parents' financial obligation to their children is met."

Pennsylvania has received numerous awards recognizing its child support enforcement efforts, including the 2009 Office of Child Support Enforcement Commissioner's Exemplary Leadership Award from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

The Department of Public Welfare's Bureau of Child Support Enforcement administers Pennsylvania's child support collection and enforcement efforts through cooperative agreements with the 67 county Courts of Common Pleas.

For more information on Pennsylvania's child support enforcement efforts, visit www.childsupport.state.pa.us.

Media contact: Michael Race, 717-425-7606

SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare