Advancing child support solutions in 2024 and beyond

Robbie Endris

Engagement, discussion and transformation focus for child support policymakers and collaborators

The new year brings new opportunities for those child support professionals serving families. Our work, which never subsides, requires steady attention to policy, open collaboration and engagement with people from one coast to the other. Along with opportunities, there are challenges. The greatest of these is keeping up with technology while managing what is often a standstill budget.

At Conduent, our child support experts are eager to fill their calendars and plan attendance at conferences this year. The collaborative desire to learn together and work together is a hallmark of the child support community. We will attend many conferences this year to take advantage of a variety of learning opportunities.

Our first conference was the Policy Forum of the National Child Support Engagement Association (NCSEA) which kicked off the conference year in Washington, DC, on February 1. This year’s theme was Building Community, Centering Families, Advancing Equity. Sessions explored the intersection of child support with other programs, parent engagement, family-centered approaches to child support, tribal economic breakthroughs, and much more

A good indication of the success of this conference was that the room was nearly full for every session. Insightful conversations continued into the hallways and social gatherings. The tremendous collegiality of the child support group was evident.

Conduent’s Child Support Services team, led by Senior Director Kimberly Newsom Bridges, was well represented by team members who lead policy, systems, and projects. Conduent was proud to be a Corporate Platinum Sponsor of the event. We have sponsored at the platinum level since the inception of corporate partnerships in 2018.

The Conduent Team is looking forward to collaborating with and learning from many additional national, regional and state events throughout 2024. Many states host their own conferences with a wide variety of speakers and topics and provide important networking opportunities in addition to training.

Conference agendas will include discussions on the need for revisions in the Internal Revenue Service Code to provide access to tribal programs and state program contractors. Access is needed for establishing and enforcing child support obligations. Other topics of note are declining child support caseloads, outreach to those who may benefit from services, and the latest improvements and upgrades in technology.

Our Child Support Services team values the opportunity to engage and learn from practitioners and leaders. Public–private partnerships are significant in getting this important work done well. Great ideas often arise from workshops, presentations and conversations at conferences. We look forward to working alongside state and local agencies to prepare for the future of child support, providing efficiency and expertise for the important work of helping children and families.