Child Support Policy Research
Since the 1970s, Institute for Research on Poverty (IRP) researchers have worked with State of Wisconsin and U.S. officials to promote a child support system that enhances the well-being of families, establishing the state, university and IRP as national models for child support policy development and evaluation. About half of all American children will spend part of their childhood living in single-parent households -- the most economically vulnerable families -- and government has come to play a major role in the way society ensures their support. IRP researchers have helped to create child support policy that is informed, tested and evaluated by scientists in concert with policymakers.
Outcomes
The sound child support policy stemming from IRP research helps ensure that the 50 percent of American children who will spend at least part of their childhood living in a single-parent home and their custodial parents are more likely to receive child support, and noncustodial parents are more likely to be held responsible in a fair manner for their parental obligations.
Focus Areas
Project Leader
Judith Bartfeld
Professor
- Department/Unit
- Institute for Research on Poverty
- School or College
- College of Letters & Science