Washington, DC - The District's Child Support Amnesty Program was a huge success! More than 1,600 non-custodial parents took advantage of the two week amnesty period from August 1st - 13th offered by the Child Support Services Division (CSSD) of The Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia.
Over the last weekend of amnesty alone, some 400 parents showed up to get current on their child support payments, catapulting the back due child support collection rate during amnesty to more than $200,000.00. The monies received exclusively represent payments toward past due child support, and hundreds of employers have committed to make future payments through wage withholdings.
Benidia Rice, Director CSSD, says that although The Child Support Amnesty Program 2005 has resulted in a financial boost for the District's children, it's about more than just money. "We are very pleased with the turnout. The fact that hundreds of parents have stepped up to pay support, means that more kids are assured of having both parents actively involved in their lives. These parents now know that the child support agency is not a barrier from seeing their kids because they are behind on their child support payments."