In August 2024, OCSS awarded Section 1115 grant and waiver funding to two California counties, Cherokee Nation, Lac Courte Oreilles, Louisiana, Minnesota, Nooksack Indian Tribe, Virginia, and Washington to implement the Next Generation Child Support Employment Demonstration (NextGen). This demonstration aims to expand and strengthen child support-led employment services for noncustodial parents to improve the consistent payment of child support and enhance the financial well-being of children.
OCSS entered into a cooperative agreement with the State of Michigan to provide technical assistance and lead the evaluation of the NextGen demonstration projects. Michigan is partnering with MDRC and the MEF Associates to carry out these efforts. As part of the demonstration, NextGen sites receive tailored technical assistance to support the planning, implementation, and improvement of their programs. MEF provides early-stage support to help sites define their program models, build partnerships, and develop effective recruitment and enrollment strategies. Ongoing technical assistance continues throughout implementation, helping sites navigate challenges and strengthen program delivery. Each participating site will also contribute to a comprehensive evaluation to assess the effectiveness of the demonstration in achieving its goals.