April 2024 CSQ

Creation of the Child Support Reentry
Team (CSRT)
Upon approval to move forward with the
creation of the CSRT, many administrative
obstacles had to be overcome, including the
establishment of positions, changes to the
child support guidelines, changes to state
law, and funding. However, the biggest and
most complex question that had to be
answered was, “What role can the child support program play in supporting
parents who are justice-involved?”
The task of creating the team was to establish TDHS positions. After almost
a year of work from various contributors inside and outside TDHS, CSRT
began taking shape. In August 2020, the proposed CSRT positions were
established. While the positions were vacant, it was a huge step in making
the proposal a reality.
A survey of state law and Tennessee’s child support guidelines revealed
several gaps that needed to be addressed before the work could begin.
The TDHS Policy Team and Office of General Counsel collaborated to
revise the child support guidelines, allowing individuals incarcerated for
more than 180 days to request a review of their current child support order
due to this change in circumstance. A self-support reserve was created,
and a child support minimum order was established. In addition, state law
needed to be revised to allow TDHS the ability to initiate the review of a
current child support order when there is a known change of circumstance.
These mission-critical updates to Tennessee’s child support guidelines and
state law created a pathway for CSRT to effectively serve justice-involved
parents.
TDHS also identified funding to assist justice-involved parents with
essential needs.
Phase One: Modifications for Incarcerated Parents
With these tasks accomplished, the new guiding question became, “What
role can the child support program and CSRT play in supporting parents
who are justice-involved?” Research and demonstration grants have shown
that child support programs can play an important role in alleviating barriers
for justice-involved parents. However, the barriers faced by child support
offices in locating and contacting a parent who is incarcerated often prevent