Lorain County's child support enforcement efforts are showing promising results, as highlighted in the recent Commissioners' Board Meeting on August 1, 2025. The county's staff, consisting of 55 members, is currently managing approximately 24,000 active cases, with each enforcement worker handling an average of 1,350 cases. This high workload underscores the dedication of the team in ensuring child support obligations are met.

As of June 30, 2025, Lorain County has established paternity for 10,199 out of 11,230 children born out of wedlock this year, achieving a remarkable 96 percent establishment rate. Additionally, the county has opened 18,740 support establishment cases, successfully establishing support in 17,891 of them, which translates to a 95.88 percent success rate.

Financially, the county has collected nearly $23 million in current child support owed, representing 72.45 percent of the total owed, which is an increase of 1.5 percent from the previous year and above the state average of 71.93 percent. Furthermore, the collection of arrears has reached approximately $78 million, marking a 3.91 percent increase from last year.

The meeting also addressed the ongoing "Back to School Amnesty Month," which allows individuals in default of their child support to reinstate their driver's licenses by paying one month's support and a nominal fee towards arrears. This initiative has previously yielded significant collections, with hopes to reach $50,000 this year.

The county's collaboration with community partners, including the prosecutor's office and juvenile court, has resulted in approximately $1.8 million in reimbursements for salaries and programming, enhancing the overall effectiveness of the child support enforcement program.

As discussions continue around the challenges of uncollected child support, the county is exploring options like the Reduction of Permanently Assigned Arrears (ROPA) program to address cases deemed uncollectible. The commitment to utilizing all available enforcement techniques remains a priority for the county, ensuring that child support obligations are met and families receive the support they need.