Gov. Jennifer M. Granholm today proclaimed October as Child Support Month in Michigan, recognizing the importance of child support in strengthening families and providing critical financial support to children.

Michigan's child support program, administered through the Michigan Department of Human Services in partnership with the friends of the court and prosecuting attorneys, facilitates the collection of over $1.4 billion annually for children and families in our state. An estimated 4,698 individuals work in the child support system. For each full-time worker, an average of $603,465 was collected in 2007.

"Child support payments help feed, clothe and house families," DHS Director Ismael Ahmed said. "It also reduces poverty and maximizes economic opportunity. Child support is private money that prevents the family from needing public assistance to care for their children."

More than ever, Michigan employers are critical to the program's success. When an employer receives an income withholding notice from the friend of the court, they collect the money from the employee's pay before issuing payroll checks. The payment is sent directly to Michigan's child support central processing operation, the State Disbursement Unit. Employer income withholding accounts for about 80 percent of all child support collected.

In addition to employers, many state departments, hospitals, and community partners cooperate with the state program to ensure that families receive quality child support services. With an estimated 500,000 children in Michigan currently living in poverty, child support is an important way to help families get the support they need.

For more information, please consult the DHS Web site at www.michigan.gov/childsupport.