NCSL Legislative Video Resource Center

In a year that seemed doomed to disease and economic ruin, legislative leaders found themselves on the adventure of a lifetime—and made history in the process. As the pandemic and protests swept through the country, keepers of the institution grasped their gavels, dusted off their Mason’s Manuals and governed in a most 21st-century way. Legislative and staff leaders tell their stories of motivation and ingenuity, answer questions about running sessions during a pandemic and share how they continue to lead beyond crisis.

Explore the fundamentals of child support programs, policies and practices, the relationship between states and the federal Office of Child Support Enforcement, and the cost-avoidance benefits of participating in the federal child support program. States share examples of how they use child support programs to strengthen family economic security, enhance child development and increase employment among noncustodial parents. Speakers include Melissa Johnson and Yvette Riddick, Office of Child Support Enforcement.