Family Initiatives - Child Support Division

Family Initiatives

Services for Incarcerated Noncustodial Parents

Family Initiatives works with the Federal Bureau of Prisons, Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ), and county jails to deliver education and resources to incarcerated parents about paternity and child support issues that impact their lives while incarcerated and upon release. The OAG distributes thousands of the Incarcerated Parents and Child Support Handbook each year. The handbook covers the basics of paternity and child support and provides an inquiry form for incarcerated parents to receive information regarding case status, paternity establishment, and communication with their children. In spring 2010 the OAG will release a DVD for incarcerated parents in TDCJ and county jails that encourages them to remain emotionally and financially engaged with their children.

Family Initiatives staff is conducting a pilot in eight child support field offices to develop and test procedures and policy recommendations for modifying child support orders for incarcerated NCPs. The pilot also includes training of TDCJ Access to Courts supervisors (law librarians).