CHILD SUPPORT ADMINISTRATION.


LEGAL AUTHORITY

Act No. 5 of December 30, as amended, known as the Child Support Act.

MISSION

Ensure that those legally responsible, provide the required support to children and people 60 years or more, thus promoting self-sufficiency and the well-being of families.

VISION

Establish an effective and efficient administrative mechanism to ensure that those legally required provide support to children and people over 60 years, in accordance with applicable laws, ensuring a decent and reliable revenue stream that allows the development and well-being of families.

ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE

The Child Support Administration is comprised of the following organizational units:

  • Case Management Area
  • Administrative Operations Area
  • Child Support Auxiliary Advocates Area
  • Legal Office
  • Office of Coordination of Administrative Judges
  • Office of the Deputy Administrator of Support for Older People
  • Planning and Evaluation Office
  • Budget Office
  • Human Resources Office
  • Community Relations Office
  • Data Systems Office
  • Administrators Office
  • Regional Office

GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION

The Child Support Administration headquarters are located in Hato Rey. In addition, it has 10 regional offices and several field offices that are part of the Department of the Family. Regional offices are located in the following municipalities: Aguadilla, Arecibo, Bayamn, Caguas, Carolina, Guayama, Humacao, Mayaguez, Ponce and San Juan.

PROGRAMMATIC STRUCTURE

POSITIONS FILLED

Authorized and Proposed Positions 2009 2010 2011 2012
Sept./08 Sept./09 Sept./10 Feb./11 Proj.

 

Total amount of positions 790 760 565 587 587

Data comes from the Agency's Certified Headcount Reports. Figures for Fiscal Year 2011-2012 were estimated during the budget formulation process.

PROGRAMS

CHILD SUPPORT APPLICATION AND PROCESING

Program Description

Established by the Child Support Act. Procures that parents or legal guardians contribute, within their means, to the care and well being of children under 21 years of age, by improving existing agency's systems and streamlining administrative procedures for the establishment, collection and distribution of maintenance.

Statistical Data 2010 2011 2012

 

Absent fathers located 7,000 10,000 13,000
Alimony collections (in dollars) 493,000,000 543,000,000 593,000,000
Customers served 500,000 510,000 510,000
Number of cases in which paternity was established 144 200 250

The statistical data was provided by the Agency during the Fiscal Year 2011-2012 budget formulation process.

Customers

Parents and children who need services to establish paternity, collection and distribution child support.


Human Resources

Authorized and Proposed Positions 2009 2010 2011 2012

Judges, Lawyers, and Legal Staff 42 37 29 29
Other staff 745 721 532 554
Total, Positions 787 758 561 583

SUPPORT FOR THE ELDERLY

Program Description

People 60 years or older have the right to request and obtain support from the members of their families through mechanisms established by law, this program ensures that Family members meet these obligations. These responsabilities are assigned by Act No. 168 of August 12, 2002, as amended, known as the Act to Strengthen and Support Family and the Elderly.

Objectives

  • Ensure that persons 60 years or older, in need of support, receive maintenance and support from the members of their families.
  • Review all requests received, properly process them and provide the necessary services related to elderly support.
  • Award support payments through administrative mediation or the judicial process.
  • Locate family members whose whereabouts are unknown and demand they comply with their obligation to provide substenance to their elders.
  • Guide and educate the community about elder's right to receive support from their family members.

Customers

Families with persons 60 years or older, who need to receive financial support.

Human Resources

Authorized and Proposed Positions 2009 2010 2011 2012

Judges, Lawyers, and Legal Staff 0 1 1 1
Other staff 3 1 3 3
Total, Positions 3 2 4 4

FISCAL YEAR 2011-2012 ADOPTED BUDGET

The consolidated budget for fiscal year 2011-2012 is $ 55,524,000. The funds include $ 14,511,000 from the Joint Resolution-General Fund and $ 41,013,000 in Federal Grants.

Operational Expenses reflect an increase of $ 3,449,000 compared to the resources allocated for fiscal year 2010-2011. This change is due to resources assigned for: the purchase and improvement of technology systems, specifically, the Puerto Rico Child Support Enforcement Automated System (PRACSES, Spanish Acronym), the transferring of positions and the increase of federal funds to promote services offered by the Administration.

Federal Grants correspond to the Child Support Enforcement Act. The Administration for Child Support works with state and federal funds. The matching of federal funds requires that the Government of Puerto Rico contributes 34% of the costs for the operation of the Agency.


SUMMARY OF AVAILABLE RESOURCES

Consolidated Budget  (thousands $) 2009 2010 2011 2012

 

Program  
Operational Expenses Actual Actual Budget Adopted
Child Support Application and processing 34,523 34,010 51,637 54,957
Support for the elderly 499 331 438 567
Subtotal, Operational Expenses 35,022 34,341 52,075 55,524
Total, Program 35,022 34,341 52,075 55,524
 
Funding Sources  
Operational Expenses  
Joint Resolution - General Fund 12,021 5,520 5,826 14,511
Federal Grants 23,001 22,749 20,758 41,013
Local Stabilization Fund 0 6,072 5,317 0
Federal Economic Stimulus - ARRA 0 0 20,174 0
Subtotal, Operational Expenses 35,022 34,341 52,075 55,524
Total, Funding Sources 35,022 34,341 52,075 55,524
 
Expense Category  
Operational Expenses  
Payroll and Related Expenses 27,601 22,725 35,810 30,939
Rent and Utilities 1,379 1,424 1,968 2,044
Purchased Services 5,027 7,348 11,843 10,657
Transportation Expenses 58 340 474 244
Professional Services 339 1,166 290 278
Other Expenses 117 459 596 1,195
Previous Years Debt Payments 1 3 0 0
Equipment Purchases 148 410 545 8,744
Office Supplies and other Materials 347 446 503 1,276
Advertising and Media Expenses 5 20 46 147
Subtotal, Operational Expenses 35,022 34,341 52,075 55,524
Total, Expense Category 35,022 34,341 52,075 55,524


SUMMARY OF RESOURCES BY PROGRAM

Child Support Application and processing

Budget (thousands $) 2009 2010 2011 2012

 

Funding Sources  
Operational Expenses  
Federal Economic Stimulus - ARRA 0 0 20,174 0
Federal Grants 23,001 22,749 20,758 41,013
Joint Resolution - General Fund 11,522 5,259 5,590 13,944
Local Stabilization Fund 0 6,002 5,115 0
Subtotal, Operational Expenses 34,523 34,010 51,637 54,957
Total, Funding Sources 34,523 34,010 51,637 54,957
 
Expense Category  
Operational Expenses  
Payroll and Related Expenses 27,315 22,588 35,585 30,715
Rent and Utilities 1,373 1,420 1,961 2,032
Purchased Services 4,871 7,211 11,799 10,524
Transportation Expenses 58 338 472 238
Professional Services 319 1,139 200 188
Other Expenses 104 448 571 1,170
Equipment Purchases 145 410 537 8,717
Office Supplies and other Materials 333 436 490 1,250
Advertising and Media Expenses 5 20 22 123
Subtotal, Operational Expenses 34,523 34,010 51,637 54,957
Total, Expense Category 34,523 34,010 51,637 54,957
 

Support for the elderly

Budget (thousands $) 2009 2010 2011 2012

 

Funding Sources  
Operational Expenses  
Joint Resolution - General Fund 499 261 236 567
Local Stabilization Fund 0 70 202 0
Subtotal, Operational Expenses 499 331 438 567
Total, Funding Sources 499 331 438 567
 
Expense Category  
Operational Expenses  
Payroll and Related Expenses 286 137 225 224
Rent and Utilities 6 4 7 12
Purchased Services 156 137 44 133
Transportation Expenses 0 2 2 6
Professional Services 20 27 90 90
Other Expenses 13 11 25 25
Previous Years Debt Payments 1 3 0 0
Equipment Purchases 3 0 8 27
Office Supplies and other Materials 14 10 13 26
Advertising and Media Expenses 0 0 24 24
Subtotal, Operational Expenses 499 331 438 567
Total, Expense Category 499 331 438 567