About Us

The Oregon Child Support Program is a partnership between the Oregon Department of Justice (DOJ) and 18 county District Attorney offices to provide services and support that promote the well-being of Oregon children. This means working with parents to ensure every child receives the financial and emotional support they need to thrive.

The Oregon Child Support Program provides the following services:

The Child Support Program also assists employers to understand and comply with legal obligations, such as reporting new hires, withholding income, and enrolling dependents in medical insurance plans if available.


Kate Cooper Richardson, Division Administrator

Kate is the division administrator of the Division of Child Support and the director of the Oregon Child Support Program, Oregon’s federal Title IV-D program. Kate oversees 575 employees in 13 offices who provide child support services for 141,000 cases, and coordinates with 18 district attorney offices who also provide child support services under the Child Support Program. Those services include paternity establishment; establishment, modification, and enforcement of child support orders; and local and interstate work. The Oregon Child Support Program collects nearly $343 million per year to distribute to families.

Prior to joining the Oregon DOJ in 2010, Kate’s public service career includes work in all three branches of state government, including the legislature, the Oregon Court of Appeals, eight years as Chief of Staff to a former Oregon State Treasurer, and a year with a former Governor. Kate holds a B.A. from the University of Oregon and a J.D. cum laude from the Willamette University School of Law.

Director’s Message

Raising and supporting children isn’t easy – and it’s even harder when you’re on your own. Every day, the Oregon Child Support Program helps more than 400,000 parents provide the financial and emotional support their children need. The program processes more than $1 million a day in medical and child support for our youngest and most vulnerable Oregonians, and is one of the most cost-effective and efficient agencies in the state.

Through the Oregon DOJ’s Division of Child Support, and the work of many District Attorney offices, the Oregon Child Support Program offers services that improve the well-being of children, reduce reliance on public assistance, encourage family self-sufficiency, return funds to the state treasury, and save taxpayer money.

As the director of Oregon’s Child Support Program, I’m committed to continuing our tradition of dedicated public service – supporting parents to support children.

Kate Cooper Richardson
Director


Self-Assessment Report (PDF) »

This report is for fiscal year 2021 and prepared by the Research Analyst team.