Florida's two long-standing child support enforcement demonstration projects, located in Manatee and Dade counties, show mixed performance results. The Manatee County demonstration project has generally performed well. However, the Dade County demonstration project has not performed well and has been less efficient than the Department of Revenue in collecting support.
Both demonstration projects were affected by several key factors, including population size, the characteristics of the families served, court practices, and internal organizational processes. However, these factors affected the two projects differently due the specific circumstances in each county. Manatee County's relative smaller size and sufficient, trained staff allowed it to perform well while these factors were more problematic for Dade County.
We recommend that the Legislature continue funding the two demonstration projects. The Manatee demonstration project should be continued based on its good performance. In contrast, the Dade demonstration project's continued funding should not be based on past performance but rather on recent steps taken by the Legislature and Dade management to improve performance, and an understanding of the factors that have affected Dade's performance. Future funding for both projects should be based primarily on their performance.

Child Support Guidelines Schedule Should Reflect Current Economic Conditions
Report 00-20 December 2000
Progress Report: Child Support Enforcement Demonstration Projects Continue to Show Mixed Results
Report 00-19 November 2000
Review of Adherence to Child Support Guidelines
Report 97-63 March 1998

Copies of this report in print or alternate accessible format may be obtained by email OPPAGA@oppaga.fl.gov, telephone (850) 488-0021, or mail 111 W. Madison St., Room 312 Tallahassee, FL 32399-1475.