A New State Database Locates Parents Behind On Child Support

THE STATE SOCIAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT HAS POSTED AN ONLINE SEARCHABLE DATABASE OF PARENTS WHO ARE BEHIND ON THEIR CHILD SUPPORT PAYMENTS. THE LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES LAUNCHED THE DATABASE MONDAY, ALLOWING PEOPLE TO SEARCH NEARLY 53,000 DELINQUENT CHILD SUPPORT CASES BY NAME, CITY, AMOUNT OWED OR PARISH WHERE THE COURT ORDER WAS ISSUED. THE WEBSITE IS LOCATED AT WWW.DCFS.LA.GOV/DELINQUENT . DEPARTMENT SECRETARY RUTH JOHNSON SAYS THE DATABASE WILL MAKE IT EASIER FOR PEOPLE TO REPORT TO HER AGENCY WHEN THEY KNOW THE LOCATIONS OF PARENTS WITH BACK-OWED CHILD SUPPORT DEBTS. THE AMOUNTS OWED RANGE FROM HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS TO HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS. AT LEAST 81 PEOPLE OWE $100,000 OR MORE. THE TOTAL AMOUNT OWED TO LOUISIANA'S CHILDREN IS ABOUT $1.2 BILLION.