On August 31, 2020, the Office of Child Support Enforcement at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration for Children and Families awarded the Department of Social Services, Family Support Division two $1 million grants to develop two programs to educate teens and young adults about the financial, legal, and emotional responsibilities of parenthood.
Empower youth and young adults to become self-sufficient, resilient and responsible citizens.
To provide youth with parenthood curricula and financial literacy to delay parenthood until they have completed their education, gained financial independence, and entered a committed relationship.
The Missouri Child Support agency was established in 1977. The Child Support program’s responsibilities include community awareness, locating parents, establishing paternity and establishing and enforcing child and medical support orders. Path to My Success website and the two pre-parenthood grants are an integral part of the agency’s community awareness initiatives. The Missouri Child Support Program has an innovative approach to working with clients through the Child Support Outreach Unit.
In December 2015, the Child Support Outreach Unit was created to address systemic issues with clients such as poverty and difficult family relationships to enhance the services offered by the Missouri Child Support Program. This approach is built on establishing relationships with community partners to assist and educate Missouri families about the Child Support program. The Child Support Outreach Unit has engaged the public with six driving factors: employment, parenthood, pre-parenthood and young adult education, corrections, diversion programs, and community engagement.