Program Organization
In this Topic
Introduction
Under IV-D of the Social Security Act, federal funding of the Child Support Program is made available through reimbursement incentives. The OCSE is located within the ACF, DHHS. This agency develops and implements policies, performs audits, oversees operation of federal systems, assists states and tribes, disseminates information, coordinates outreach, responds to inquiries, provides training, coordinates special projects, and researches data. The federal government delegates the responsibility for operating the Child Support Program to the State Title IV-D agency.
New Jersey Child Support Program
In New Jersey, the Child Support Program is supervised by the state and administered by the counties. The Child Support Program is supervised by the State Department of Human Services, DFD, and OCSS. The OCSS serves as the State Title IV-D agency and is responsible to the federal government for the overall administration of the Child Support Program (see diagram below). The OCSS directly manages certain services and is responsible for monitoring all county IV-D offices.
The OCSS has a Cooperative Agreement with the New Jersey Judiciary that is executed through the AOC. A Cooperative Agreement is a contract for a particular set of duties/deliverables and sets forth the obligations of each party. The purpose of the Cooperative Agreement is to ensure optimum program performance in the operation of New Jersey’s Title IV-D CSE Program. In accordance with the Cooperative Agreement, the Judiciary performs the following IV-D functions: establishment and enforcement of child support orders, maintenance of the Central Registry for the receipt of incoming intergovernmental complaints, and maintenance and reconciliation of accounts to support payments. The OCSS also has Cooperative Agreements with all New Jersey counties to arrange for sheriff services to execute child support arrest warrants.
Customer Services
New Jersey utilizes a vendor to operate a child support call center, the New Jersey Family Support Services Center. Call center staff troubleshoot and respond to caller’s inquiries. If a person needs to reach their caseworker, call center staff will send a referral to their local office. Call center staff may also send referrals to central customer services for specific inquiries..
The OCSS Customer Service Unit is responsible for responding to written correspondence received from the client or other local or federal stakeholders. Staff also conduct online web-chats with clients to resolve any issues they may have and respond to any referrals from the New Jersey Family Support Services Center.
The AOC Customer Service Unit also responds to written and telephonic client inquiries. They work with vicinage child support offices to ensure that any issues are addressed and also respond to any referrals from the New Jersey Family Support Services Center.
Local CWAs assist clients with location and establishment of paternity and support, as well as review of their order every three years. Vicinage Family Divisions assist the client in establishing/modifying paternity and support through the court process. The PCSE Unit assists the client with enforcement of their order. Vicinage Finance Divisions are responsible for daily reconciliation, account adjustments, receipts received by the counties, and account audits.
For more information and call handling procedures, refer to Action Transmittal 13-13 Standard Operating Procedure: Expedited Call Handling.
Child Support Enforcement Organization Diagram
Counties and Vicinages
In New Jersey, there are 15 vicinages and 21 counties. A Vicinage consists of one county in more populous areas and two or three counties in less populous areas.
Diagram of NJ Counties and Vicinages
| Vicinage | Counties |
|
1 |
Atlantic County Cape May County |
|
2 |
Bergen County |
|
3 |
Burlington County |
|
4 |
Camden County |
|
5 |
Essex County |
|
6 |
Hudson County |
|
7 |
Mercer County |
|
8 |
Middlesex County |
|
9 |
Monmouth County |
|
10 |
Morris County Sussex County |
|
11 |
Passaic County |
|
12 |
Union County |
|
13 |
Somerset County Hunterdon County Warren County |
|
14 |
Ocean County |
|
15 |
Gloucester County Cumberland County Salem County |