Exploring alternatives for improving child support application filing rates within the context of civil protection order cases

The importance of obtaining child support for victims of domestic violence has been well documented in the literature yet little systematic and empirical research has been conducted on how often victims apply for and receive this type of assistance and on how the number of child support filings can be increased among victims of domestic violence. This paper presents findings from a quasi-experimental study which tested two strategies for improving the rate at which individuals filing civil protection orders also file for child support. Informational packets, outlining the process and procedure for filing for child support, and follow-up phone calls were made available to victims applying for relief under a civil protection order. Comparisons between study and control sites, during both baseline and study periods, indicate mixed or inconclusive results for the use of informational packets with the efficacy of follow-up phone calls remaining untested. Numerous explanations are provided for these findings with accompanying policy recommendations being offered in an effort to overcome study limitations and to educate members of the judicial system on the importance of providing child support for victims of domestic violence.