The Family Support Division (FSD) determined our projected PEP for FY04 currently falls below the required level. Failure to reach the required level will result in a corrective action year. States that fail to achieve the required performance levels during a corrective action year are subject to penalties, which are assessed against the state’s Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grant funds.

Although FSD is not under the threat of sanction this year, we must be vigilant in reaching and maintaining a 90 percent or better PEP. Maintaining an acceptable PEP is an ongoing effort, and FSD is calling upon staff to assist with special — as well as ongoing — efforts to meet paternity establishment goals. The efforts of both income maintenance (IM) and child support enforcement (CSE) staff are needed.

Missouri’s PEP is based on paternities established statewide (i.e., for children receiving IV–D services and children not receiving IV–D services). The equation to determine the statewide PEP is as follows:

The Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) reported a count of 9,475 paternity establishments between July 1 and December 30, 2003: 6,005 from in–hospital completion of the Affidavit Acknowledging Paternity (VS–465); 1,404 from VS–465s completed by parents on their own or with FSD’s assistance; and 2,066 from court and administrative orders. The total number of children born out–of–wedlock in the state during FY03 was 27,041. Using PEP calculations to make an estimate at the six–month point, FSD needs 14,181 additional paternity establishments by June 30, 2004.

Since the statewide PEP numbers are provided by DHSS, Bureau of Vital Records (BVR), paternity orders and VS–465s not filed with BVR are not counted in our statewide PEP. A comparison of the CSE Report with the BVR numbers indicates a significant number of paternity establishments are not reflected in the BVR count.

To ensure all appropriate paternity establishments are counted in our PEP, Policy Development Unit (PDU) staff recently contacted FSD CSE offices to obtain copies of production reports. Compliance Review Section (CRS) and PDU staff will review the production reports to identify children for whom paternity has been legally established but no order or VS–465 has been filed with BVR. Upon identifying such children, PDU staff will ask for assistance from CSE and circuit clerk staff to ensure VS–465s and certified copies of paternity orders are filed with BVR. Again this year, FSD will be asking the Office of State Courts Administrator to work with circuit clerks on this project. Individual CSE offices may receive specific feedback and/or requests for information on cases reviewed by CRS and PDU. Each office manager has been asked to delegate one individual in his/her office to receive and respond to these communications.

CSE staff will immediately implement the following measures to improve FSD’s PEP performance:

CSE–612

• When completing an Order (CSE–612), ensure Fields 9, 10 and 11 (Findings Page Part B) are completed on Missouri–born children so the appropriate language is included in the document. This language directs BVR to update the child’s birth record with the father’s name.

• On CSE–612s where Fields 9, 10 and 11 (Findings Page) are completed, ensure Field 17 of the Certification to Circuit Court (CSE–619) is also completed. This field directs the circuit clerk to send a certified copy of the CSE–612 to BVR.

• Send a VS–465 to the custodial parent when closing a non–TANF case if the applicant’s request for case closure is made before an order is established but after genetic test results confirmed paternity. The parents may incorrectly believe the birth record was updated by the genetic test results.

• Submit properly completed VS–465s to BVR in a timely manner. (CRS reviews last year found DIARY notes indicating VS–465s are being “held” for a variety of reasons. For example, notes in several cases indicated paternity and establishment were not being pursued because “the AF is incarcerated.” Incarceration is not an appropriate reason to postpone the process of establishment and getting the father’s name on the child’s birth record.)

• Ensure the Born Out Of Wedlock (Y/N), Paternity Status and Paternity Est Date fields on the Dependent Paternity Detail (DEPPD) screen are correctly completed and updated when a child’s paternity status changes. (Ref: MACSS Quick Reference Guide , Paternity)
• Ensure the child’s Place of Birth is correctly entered on the Member Profile Detail 1 (MPRO1) screen.

• If legal paternity was established via the VS–465, the CSEI will enter the Paternity Est Date as the last date on which a parent signed the form. For example, if the mother signed the  VS–465 on March 1, 2004, and the father signed the VS–465 on March 10, 2004, the CSEI will enter the Paternity Est Date as March 10, 2004. [Policy was introduced in CSE–#51 (2003) on how to obtain BVR documents with the Request for Affidavit Acknowledging Paternity (CSE–464).]
• If legal paternity was established via the CSE–612, the CSEI will enter the Paternity Est Date as the date the authorized representative of the director signed the form.
• If legal paternity was established via an administrative Decision and Order , the CSEI will enter the Paternity Est Date as the date the administrative hearing officer signed the order.
• If legal paternity was established via a judicial order, the CSEI will enter the Paternity Est Date as the date the order was entered.

IM staff can contribute to an increase in the PEP by ensuring the VS–465 is offered to appropriate parents. Staff can determine if the father is on the Missouri–born child’s birth record by viewing IBTH, the birth name inquiry screen in the Department of Social Services Common Area.

IM staff have a unique opportunity to assist in the completion of the VS–465 as they may meet with intact families in addition to the single parents. Unmarried parents who live in the same household may welcome the opportunity to establish legal paternity for their child.

IM staff may refer to Income Maintenance Manual sites 0105.025.15.05 and 0205.050.25.05, which address the Affidavit Acknowledging Paternity and the importance of establishing the father’s relationship.

NOTE:     BVR will only accept VS–465s with a 7–99 or 11–01 revision date. Staff should refer to IM–48 4/17/02 Affidavit
                Acknowledging Paternity (VS–465) Forms Manual Revision #12 to ensure they are using the most current version
                of the VS–465.

FSD staff should direct their questions/comments to their immediate supervisors. Others may contact John R. Mier, Policy Development Unit, Family Support Division, PO Box 2320, Jefferson City, MO 65102–2320 [Telephone: (573) 751–7079; e–mail: John.R.Mier@dss.mo.gov ].

• Review this memorandum with all appropriate staff.