We have a huge problem in the state of Indiana concerning our child support division. I am trying to fix that. First of all, there is a lack of enforcement. Our current laws do a better job of protecting the criminals in these matters than they do protecting and providing for our children. Far too many people repeatedly hear "there's nothing we can do" from the child support employees. Did you know that the child support division does not initiate enforcement unless the custodial parent calls them asking why they have not received any support in months? This could and usually does put the children in the middle because the children then hear from the non-custodial parent "your mom/dad is trying to put me in jail" or "your mom/dad needs to leave me alone about support".
Second, there is a lack of consistency between counties. Whether or not one receives support or enforcement for not paying support depends greatly upon which county the case is filed in. Some people will wait months or a year before their case is even looked at. That is a long time for a person to go without any child support. This issue also goes along with the fact that the child support offices are understaffed in most counties. One county has only 2 caseworkers to handle 1,500 cases. I have heard the most complaints from that county, as you can probably imagine.
Third, visitation time is being withheld by the custodial parents in some cases. I can completely understand that when abuse or neglect is an issue. But many of these custodial parents are using their children as pawns in their personal battle with the non-custodial parent. Not only does the non-custodial parent suffer but also the children are losing out on much needed quality time with their absent parent.
Those are just a few of the issues I am addressing in my petition. I cannot list them all in this newspaper. If you or anyone you know is having problems with Indiana's child support system, send me an e-mail at 79trm@comcast.net Or if you don't have a child support issue but would like to help me fix our system, send me an e-mail. Your e-mail can say something like "I support your efforts to fix our child support system" and whatever else you want to say. Please include your name and county you live in. I will be sending everyone's e-mails to 20 government officials along with a list of the problems we see in our current system and what we think should be done to change them. This is a statewide problem that needs to be fixed. You can help me do that by simply sending me an e-mail. Thank you.
