Iowa Making Changes to Child Support System

In order to ensure that parents receive the child support funds they need, the Iowa Department of Human Services is making a big transition. It is phasing out the use of county employees in local Child Support Recovery Units and replacing them with state employees. One such branch in Cedar Rapids is about to make the transition. It is currently staffed by five county employees that serve families in four counties. What started out as a seemingly good idea turned out to be a "managerial nightmare," according to one supervisor. The local board of supervisors voted to end the agreement with the state of Iowa, with whom it had an agreement to staff the local branch.

When the transition takes place, the five employees hope to keep their jobs, but as state employees rather than county ones. This will only be approved, however, when the state legislature has finished finalizing the DHS budget for the upcoming year. Planning to request child support? Don't go it alone – instead work with a family lawyer who can be of great assistance to you.