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Specialty Courts - Child Support Specialty Court

Michigan Child Support Court Programs


Child Support Specialty Court Project

A Friend of the Court workgroup working with Justice Maura D. Corrigan in 2008 asked the State Court Administrative Office (SCAO) to assist in establishing a specialty court to address child support issues. The SCAO convened a Child Support Specialty Court Advisory Committee that began to help develop appropriate guidelines for the operation of these specialty courts, in December 2008. The advisory committee reviewed current child support court program documentation from North Carolina, North Dakota and Tennessee. Subsequently, the committee developed guidelines for the pilot court project, and reviewed an assessment tool that the pilot courts could utilize in their programs.

The focus of the child support specialty court pilot projects will be to empower non custodial parents to provide economic support for their children by addressing barriers to employment. This is done by locating, securing, and maintaining a job to meet their child support obligation while sustaining self-sufficiency.

The child support courts will be a voluntary program for persons who are ordered to pay child support. Participants will include those who
  • Are subject to a child support order
  • Have problems paying child support
  • Are without a job or are underemployed
  • Do not face pending charges
  • Desire to succeed and follow program rules
These programs will help non custodial parents bond with their children, pay child support, and receive assistance through local agencies. Ancillary services may be provided by:
    Community Mental Health Treatment Providers
    Private Treatment Providers
    Substance Abuse Treatment Providers
    Coordinating Agency
    Housing Providers/Shelters
    Department of Labor - Michigan Works
    Michigan Rehab
    Local Employment Agencies
    Local Transit
    Council of Government – Regional offices
    Heating Assistance
    Local Charitable Organizations
    Local Advocacy Agencies
Three pilot courts were selected from grant applicants, and these programs will be evaluated at the completion of the pilot in order to determine the effectiveness and usefulness of this specialty court approach. The pilot projects began operating in June 2009, and will run through September 2010.

Other Resources

Additional information on child support and other problem-solving courts is available at the following websites:



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