PRWORA at 30: Child Support Enforcement

This report is part of the Congressional Research Services series that focuses on changes in programs affecting low-income children in light of the upcoming 30-year anniversary of the enactment of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (PRWORA).

Child support can play an important role in helping families achieve greater financial stability. This report reviews how the child support enforcement system has changed since PRWORA and explains its relationship with public assistance programs. Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) practitioners can use this resource to better understand how child support policies affect the families they serve, strengthen collaboration with child support agencies, and help parents access resources that support their children's well-being while working toward greater economic independence.