What If Parents Could Meet Their Child Support Obligations through Noncash Contributions?

More than one in four children, including almost half of all Black children, have a parent who lives outside their home. Although the child support system can be successful for families with sufficient financial resources, the system’s enforcement measures and rules about what counts as child support may unintentionally undermine family well-being for families with low incomes and noncustodial parents who face structural barriers to financial stability. This blogpost examines how the San Francisco Department of Child Support Services has piloted a voluntary program that allows parents to meet their child support obligations through agreed-upon, in-kind contributions. It notes how shifting away from solely monetary child support contributions could strengthen family relationships, promote racial and cultural equity, and improve families’ and communities’ financial well-being.