The relationship between non-resident fathers' social networks and social capital and the establishment of child support orders

Literature and research examining child support compliance and non-resident fathers has primarily come from the perspective of collecting child support payments from non-resident fathers, most notably, those who are divorced, employed, and earning an income. Receiving limited attention in the literature has been the exclusive discussion of establishment of child support orders, which is related to child support compliance. Furthermore, literature and research examining child support compliance has given limited attention to never married, cohabitating, unemployed, underemployed, and low-income non-resident fathers. Building upon these limitations, this study focuses on the intra- and inter-dependent networks non-resident fathers utilize in fulfilling their child support obligation of establishing child support orders. Using cross-sectional data on a sample of non-resident fathers from the Fragile Families and Child Well-being Study from 1998–2002, this study addresses whether non-resident fathers' relationship with their children and former spouses or partners and involvement with extended family and friends and formal institutions are associated with the establishment of child support orders. Results of the logistic regression models indicate that non-resident fathers' involvement with formal institutions contributes to an increase in the establishment of child support orders. Based on these findings, it is recommended the child support enforcement system includes and integrates formal support services into the program to help non-resident fathers fulfill their child support obligations.