Whereas, Child support strengthens Michigan families and helps assure that children receive the financial and emotional support they deserve from both parents; and,

Whereas, Child support is the obligation of both parents, and failure to pay results in serious consequences for the parents, the children, and the citizens of Michigan; and,

Whereas, Michigan’s child support program is setting a national example of cooperative leadership by forming a Program Leadership Group comprised of child support program partners – the Courts, the FIA Office of Child Support, the MiCSES project leaders, and Prosecuting Attorneys – who work together to ensure that children receive the support of both parents; and,

Whereas, As of October 1, 2004, Michigan child support workers exceeded all expectations in the first year of statewide program integration through the distribution of over $1.6 billion in child support payments to children; and,

Whereas, Michigan consistently ranks among the top states nationally in the collections distributed; and now therefore be it,

Resolved, That I, Jennifer M. Granholm, Governor of the State of Michigan, do hereby proclaim October 2004, as Child Support Month in Michigan, and I encourage all citizens to recognize the efforts of those working to strengthen our families by ensuring financial and emotional support of Michigan’s greatest resource, our children.