Feds Test Jobs Program to Boost Child Support Payments
Published Date: 7/16/2026
Notice
Summary
The government is testing new programs to help parents who don’t live with their kids get better jobs and pay child support more regularly. Ten places, including counties and tribes, are trying out these ideas over five years, starting with planning and piloting. This study will show what works best and help improve support services for families, with public comments open until August 17, 2026.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.
Job help for noncustodial parents
You may be offered employment and other support services if you are a parent who does not live with your children at one of 10 NextGen sites. The demonstration runs for 5 years, with the first 1.5 years for planning and piloting and 3.5 years for full implementation, and sites include locations such as Los Angeles County (CA), Louisiana, Minnesota, Virginia, and Washington.
Your employment and child-support data used
If you consent to be in the study, staff will enter your enrollment and service information into a Management Information System (MIS), and evaluators will use child support administrative data and the National Directory of New Hires to measure employment, earnings, and child support outcomes for the 12 months before and after enrollment. The evaluation will also include participant interviews and staff interviews as part of the data collection.
Time burden for participants and staff
Participating in NextGen data collection carries time costs: the MIS enrollment/participation form is estimated for 5,400 respondents at 1.5 hours each (total burden 8,100 hours; annual burden 2,700 hours), and there are 100 staff/community partner interviews and 100 participant interviews at 1.0 hour each (annual burdens shown as 33 hours each). The notice estimates total annual burden of 2,766 hours.
Personalized for You
How does this regulation affect your finances?
Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this federal register document means for your household, plus every other regulation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Key Dates
Department and Agencies
Related Federal Register Documents
2026-16414, Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System
This document withdraws a proposed rule that was published in the Federal Register on January 11, 2008. The proposed rule would have amended the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS) regulations at 45 CFR 1355.40 and the appendices to Part 1355 to modify the requirements for States to collect and report data to ACF on children in out-of-home care and in subsidized adoption or guardianship arrangements with the State. This document also withdraws the provision of the 2008 proposed rule that implemented the AFCARS penalty requirements of the Adoption Promotion Act of 2003 (Pub. L. 108-145).
2026-16134, Reducing Federal Burden for Head Start Programs
This NPRM proposes to rescind and replace the Head Start Program Performance Standards (Performance Standards), last revised in 2024. The proposed Performance Standards would significantly reduce Federal bureaucratic burden on programs; defer to State policies wherever possible; return substantial local control to Head Start agencies delivering the services and to parents as the primary caregivers and decision-makers for their children; reduce unnecessary duplication of Head Start regulations with Federal statute and other regulations; and emphasize the critical role of health, nutrition, and physical exercise for young children.
2026-11530, Employment and Training Services for Noncustodial Parents in the Child Support Program; Rescission
The government plans to cancel a recent rule that let child support agencies offer job training to noncustodial parents using federal funds. This change affects agencies and parents involved in the child support program and could shift how support services are funded and delivered. Comments on this proposal are open until August 10, 2026, so folks have time to weigh in before it’s final.
2026-09383, Restoring Flexibility To Support Head Start Program Access
The government wants to give Head Start programs more freedom by removing some strict rules about staff wages and benefits. This change aims to save over $2 billion and help programs serve more kids better. If you want to share your thoughts, make sure to comment by June 11, 2026!
2026-06632, Work Participation Rate Calculation Changes: Recalibration of the Caseload Reduction Credit and Prohibition of Small Checks in Work Participation Rate Calculation
The government is updating how it measures work participation for families getting help through TANF. They’re changing the base year for counting caseload drops from 2005 to 2015 and won’t count tiny monthly payments under $35 in work rate calculations. These changes, required by a 2023 law, affect states and could impact funding starting soon, so everyone should pay attention and share their thoughts by May 6, 2026.
2026-17745, Submission for Office of Management and Budget Review; Head Start State Collaboration Office Grant Application
The Office of Head Start (OHS), Administration for Children and Families (ACF) is proposing a new information collection activity for the Head Start State Collaboration Office (HSCO) Grant Application. HSCO grants are authorized under the Head Start Act and support coordination between Head Start agencies and state systems serving young children and families. OHS has developed new application instructions to align HSCO grant activities with states and federal priorities, including improving outcomes in child welfare, strengthening family formation, supporting effective service delivery, and enhancing early childhood education. This proposed information collection is necessary to support consistent implementation of program objectives and alignment across all states.
Previous / Next Documents
Previous: 2026-14278, Specially Designated Global Terrorist Designations of Juarez Cartel and Los Viagras
The U.S. government has officially labeled the Juarez Cartel and Los Viagras as global terrorists because they threaten American safety and interests. This means their assets in the U.S. will be frozen, and Americans are banned from doing business with them. These actions take effect immediately to stop their harmful activities and protect the country’s security and economy.
Next: 2026-14280, Importer of Controlled Substances Application: Catalent CTS, LLC
Catalent CTS, LLC wants to become an official importer of certain controlled substances like marijuana and gamma hydroxybutyric acid. People and companies involved can share their thoughts or ask for a hearing by August 17, 2026. This move could impact how these substances are brought into the U.S., but no costs or changes for the public are mentioned yet.