Role of IDHFS

Federal law says that all states must offer child support services to all families, whether they are receiving welfare or not. In Illinois, the Division of Child Support Enforcement (DCSE) is a part of the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (IDHFS). IDHFS helps parents and caretakers:

  1. Locate the parent who does not live with the child-the non-custodial parent (NCP)
  2. Legally establish the child’s father
  3. Get child support and/or medical coverage
  4. Change the amount a parent has to pay for child support
  5. Order job search and employment services for the NCP

IDHFS cannot:

  1. Help you get a divorce or decide who gets property
  2. Petition the court and decide issues involving custody or parenting time rights to either parent (the Nineteenth Judicial Circuit Court has a mediation program that the noncustodial and custodial parents may qualify for to assist with establishing a parenting time order).
  3. Petition the court to provide college expenses

There is no charge for the child support enforcement services.

Contact DCSE: