SUCCESS WITH SUCCESS WITH INTERSTATEINTERSTATE

ERICSA 50th Annual Training Conference & Exposition ▪ May 19 – 23 ▪ Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista, Florida 

Speakers: Rob Velcoff, Angela Speakers: Rob Velcoff, Angela Kasey, Christine SorensonKasey, Christine SorensonModerator: Jennifer WoodsModerator: Jennifer Woods

Rob VelcoffRob VelcoffManager of Interstate OperationsManager of Interstate OperationsNew York State Division of CSENew York State Division of CSE

rob.velcoff@dfa.state.ny.usrob.velcoff@dfa.state.ny.us

Christine SorensonChristine SorensonState of ColoradoState of Colorado

Interstate Central Registry LeadInterstate Central Registry Leadchristine.sorenson@state.co.uschristine.sorenson@state.co.us

Angela KaseyAngela KaseyIntergovernmental Reference Guide (IRG)Intergovernmental Reference Guide (IRG)

angela.h.kasey@lmco.comangela.h.kasey@lmco.comAngela.Kasey-Henry@acf.hhs.govAngela.Kasey-Henry@acf.hhs.gov

Jennifer WoodsJennifer WoodsAssociate Program ManagerAssociate Program Manager

New Jersey Child Support InstituteNew Jersey Child Support InstituteRutgers UniversityRutgers University

jwoods@ssw.rutgers.edujwoods@ssw.rutgers.edu

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What to do First?

Decide what needs to be done.

If your course of action can be done via the One-State process, do it. There is no need to get a second state involved.

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What to do First?

If One-State is not appropriate, or if attempted and failed, go Two-State.

Make sure you have all available information on hand before getting a second state involved.

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What to do First?

Know exactly what you are asking for.

Make sure you are not asking for something that is illegal, or that the other state is not allowed to do.

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What to do First?

Don’t waste the other state’s time.

Know which federal forms to send.

Interstate Forms Matrix (available on www.ERICSA.org).

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What to do First?

Send originals (or certified copies).

Fill out all documents as completely as possible.

Verify address/employment info BEFORE sending the case.

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What to do First?

Know what the other state requires.

If you don’t know this information, ask!

… or check the Federal IRG.

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What to do First?

Send all new interstate cases to the Central Registry.

The CSET #1 acknowledgment page gives you the correct contact information – record this!

CSET #1

CSET #1

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What to do First?

Follow up with the appropriate local or regional office, not the Central Registry.

Check the IRG for good contact information.

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Why Use the IntergovernmentalReference Guide (IRG) ?

The IRG is:An information resource tool containing

– Profiles of policies and statutory authorities

– Location Codes and Addresses

An interactive website

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What Do Profiles Contain?State and tribal profiles contain the following Program

Categories:– General state and tribe-at-a-glance– UIFSA– Reciprocity (states only)– Age of majority– Statutes of limitations– Support details– Income withholding– Paternity– Support order establishment– Support enforcement– Modification and review/adjustment– Lump sum payments– Insurance match (states only)

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What Address Information Is Available?

Location codes and address sections contain– Names, addresses, telephone numbers, and when available, fax

numbers, and e-mail addressesAddress types– State– State Region – County – Tribal– International– Central OCSE– Regional OCSE

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Public Access Download state and tribal profiles Perform profile queries Link to state websites View the following state address types

– Central registry– State disbursement unit– State Parent Locator Service– Domestic violence contact

View international addresses– Countries with which the U.S. has reciprocal agreements– Additional addresses are provided for the Canadian provinces – Enhancement is coming to allow two additional addresses for payment and correspondence for

international addresses View tribal addresses View Central OCSE addresses View Regional OCSE addresses

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Public AccessSample - Central Registry Address

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View AccessState and Tribal Caseworkers

Download state and tribal profiles Perform profile queries Link to state websites View the following address types

– State (39 address types)– State Region (30 address types)– County (47 address types)– Tribal ( 2 address types)– International (same as public)– OCSE Central contacts (same as public)– OCSE Regional contacts (same as public)

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View AccessSample - Central Registry

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Edit Access State and Tribal Administrators

Edit all IRG data Certify all IRG data Disseminate the View-level user name and password to all

caseworkers (password provided by OCSE) Attend OCSE IRG conference calls Act as point of contact for their state’s or tribe’s IRG data

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Edit Access State and Tribal Administrators

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EnhancementsMay 2013

– Add additional payment address for international countries and provinces

Future– Add three sub-jurisdictions for the United Kingdom

• England/Wales• Scotland• Northern Ireland

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Every State Has One………

Central Registries are responsible for:

•Receiving incoming intergovernmental cases•Responding to inquiries

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Are They All The Same?

All follow same federal regulations.

Internal processes may differ.Number of staff often differs.

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Differing State Policies

• Caretaker Cases• Foster Care• Enforcing Arrears Only• Emancipation• Interest• Establishment

– Debt– Retro

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Central Registry TimeframesWithin 10 working days of receipt of intergovernmental case:•Ensure documentation is complete•Forward the case for necessary action

– Locate– To the appropriate agency for processing

•Acknowledge receipt•Request any missing documentation•Inform initiating agency where case sent

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Incomplete Documentation?

• Request from initiating agency• Forward for action that can be taken

– Pending necessary action by initiating agency

BE A TEAM PLAYER!

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Common Problems Central Registry Sees With Incoming Responding Cases

• Locate not recently verified• Missing documents• Documents missing

– Signatures– Notarization– Certification

• Other information incomplete or inaccurate

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Other Barriers Central Registry Sees With Incoming Responding Cases

• Family Violence • Action requested

inaccurate• ALL orders not included

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Tips for Completing Documents

•Reconcile arrears on all documents•Pay close attention to case type (i.e. TANF, Med Only)•Provide a recently verified address for the obligor•Request correct action (i.e. Collection of Arrears Only)•Provide direct caseworker contact information•Provide email address

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Status Requests to Central Registry

Types of communication:•Email•Phone•Fax•Transmittal #2•CSENet

Must respond to initiating agencies within 5 working days of request.

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Working With Central Registries;Your Own and Those of Other

States……..• Use the IRG for contact information.• Be sure the case is sent to the correct address.• If you call for info and get voicemail, leave a

detailed message.• Once a case has been forwarded to a local CSE

office for processing, update the address in your case.

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TEAMWORK……..

Cooperation

Consideration

Coordination

Collaboration

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Customer Service

On initial referrals, contact the Central Registry within 30 days.

On follow-up status requests, contact the local county/regional office directly.

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For Outgoing Cases

Where such contact has failed, contact the Central Registry.

The RJ should send all outgoing correspondence through the IJ IV-D agency.

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For Outgoing Cases

The party in your state should contact the appropriate office in your state directly.

The party in the other state should contact their local/regional IV-D Agency, not your office.

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For Outgoing Cases

Obligor/obligee from another state should NOT contact your state directly, and vice versa.

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Good Ideas

Paternity if CP is not the mother.

Voluntary Acknowledgment vs. Birth Certificate.

Change of Payee vs Change of Beneficiary.

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Good Ideas

Redirection of Payments vs Redirection of Payments.

Enforcement: what states do and don’t do.

Certified copies of orders.

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Good Ideas

Arrears calculations/affidavits.

IV-D vs Non-IV-D.

Telephonic Testimony.

Quick Locates: SSN and/or DOB.

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Good Ideas

Follow-up complaints – follow the hierarchy.

Ways to communicate.

Call centers vs direct contact.

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Good Ideas

State directories.

Federal OCSE Intergovernmental Reference Guide.

Don’t get discouraged!

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