On May 4, 2026, the Department of Health and Human Services' Administration for Children and Families (ACF) announced a request for public comments regarding a critical new information collection. This effort is central to the ongoing Safe Access for Victims' Economic Security (SAVES) Demonstration. It seeks to profoundly understand and enhance safety protocols for domestic violence (DV) survivors navigating the federal child support system, with comments due by June 3, 2026. The move underscores a federal commitment to ensuring that a system designed to support children does not inadvertently jeopardize the safety of their parents.
Background and Context of SAVES
The SAVES Demonstration, a five-year initiative launched in September 2022 by ACF's Office of Child Support Enforcement, supports child support programs in 12 states and one tribal jurisdiction. Its core mission is to increase safe access for DV survivors to child support, parenting time, and paternity establishment services. The project addresses the often-overlooked reality that safety concerns, including the risk of re-engagement with an abusive partner, fear of retaliation, or concerns about personal information sharing, can deter survivors from seeking vital child support. By implementing comprehensive safety policies and outreach strategies, SAVES aims to make these essential services accessible without compromising survivor well-being.
Comprehensive Data Collection Framework
As SAVES enters its fourth year, the SAVES Center, which provides technical assistance and evaluation, is initiating a multi-faceted data collection effort. This one-time collection will involve five distinct instruments designed to capture perspectives from all key stakeholders. Instrument 1, "SAVES Qualitative Interviews with DV Survivors," and Instrument 2, "SAVES Quantitative Survey with DV Survivors," will delve into survivors' experiences, perceptions, and the specific safety concerns that influence their engagement with child support. This includes understanding system-level barriers and facilitators. Instrument 3, "SAVES Quantitative Survey with DV Advocates," targets advocates who assist survivors. It seeks insights into the challenges and support needs of those navigating the child support program. It will identify how advocates assess and mitigate risks, how they coordinate with agencies, and what policy gaps exist. Instruments 4 and 5 focus on the demonstration sites themselves. Instrument 4, "SAVES Focus Groups with Child Support Staff at Demonstration Sites," will explore how new safety-focused interventions are integrated into daily operations, the challenges staff face, and their perceptions of impact. Instrument 5, "SAVES Qualitative Interviews with Clients Receiving Safety-Focused Intervention Services at Demonstration Sites," will directly gather feedback from survivors who have received these specialized services, assessing their effectiveness and impact on well-being. The data collection aims to inform stronger cross-agency collaboration and refine trauma-informed, survivor-centered practices.
Implications for Policy and Practice
The findings from this extensive data collection are poised to offer critical insights for policymakers, child support agencies, and domestic violence advocates. By identifying specific barriers and promising practices, the ACF intends to refine child support processes to be more responsive to the safety needs of DV survivors. This could lead to better screening for domestic violence, specialized staff training, modifications to court service procedures, and enhanced information-sharing protocols for survivor confidentiality. The objective is to ensure that the pursuit of child support does not inadvertently expose survivors to further harm or re-traumatization, thereby upholding the principle that access to justice and financial stability should not come at the cost of personal safety. The information gathered will be instrumental in developing best practices that can be disseminated beyond the initial demonstration sites, potentially influencing national child support guidelines.
Call for Public Engagement
The request for public comments by June 3, 2026, represents a vital opportunity for stakeholders to contribute to this important federal initiative. Individuals and organizations with experience in domestic violence support, child welfare, legal aid, or direct experience with the child support system are encouraged to review the proposed information collection and offer their perspectives. Public input ensures that the data collection instruments are comprehensive, relevant, and effectively capture the nuanced realities faced by DV survivors and those who support them. This public engagement is a cornerstone of federal rulemaking, designed to enhance the effectiveness and equity of government programs.
