![](media/image1.jpeg){width="4.1in" height="2.0in"}

**INDICATOR NAME:** Family Violence Indicator

**SETTING CRITERIA:** [IV-D]{.underline} \--

Good Cause request (TANF; due to family violence)

Self-report (Minimum two supporting affidavits)

[Non IV-D]{.underline}

Court order regarding family violence

**ELIGIBLE PEOPLE:** [People Directly Protected]{.underline} \--

Custodial parent or child victims

[Others Protected]{.underline} \--

All household members involved in the victim's MS child support cases or
orders with the abuser (Automatic)

**IMPACT:** Sends FV Indicator to the FCR

Permits other attorney action, as needed

**DURATION:** Indefinite, but reviewed annually

**REMOVAL CRITERIA:** Victim request (Written)

IV-D knowledge that risk no longer exists

**OVERRIDE:** Preliminary procedure in place/draft not available

Below are sections from Mississippi policy regarding family violence,
and the indicator, in the context of public assistance cases. Following
the policy statement is a form that is prepared in response to a TANF
recipient's request for Good Cause status \-- one of the bases for
setting a Mississippi Domestic Violence Indicator. This form is included
because it clearly sets out information about the bases for Good Cause,
and the inclusion of such a record in the protected person's case file
may be important in the event that the agency needs to provide
information at a later date regarding the reason for the person's FV
Indicator.

**Mississippi, Volume VI Section C**

**Issued 10-01-98 Page 3325**

**\* \* \***

# Good Cause

**Legal Base**

Federal law at 42 U.S.C. 602(a)(26)(B) allows domestic violence victims
and others with good cause the opportunity to request a waiver from
cooperating with child support requirements if the health or safety of
parent or child(ren) would be put at risk by the disclosure of such
paternal information.

**Definitions**

**Good Cause:** Circumstances under which cooperation may not be "in the
best interests of the child."

**Family Violence:** Being the victim (adult or child) of any act or
threatened act of violence, which results or threatens to result in
physical or mental injury.

**Good Cause vs Family Violence**

Although family violence is reason to grant good cause for not
cooperating with child support, the custodial parent may wish to
cooperate with DCSE in establishing paternity and support or enforcing
an existing support order, if she can reasonably expect her whereabouts
to remain confidential. When family violence is determined to exist, the
FV indicator must be entered on APPD.CASE. [If the FV indicator is set
on a case, no information will be disclosed to any person unless
directed by the court.]{.underline}

All good cause exemptions do not include family violence and METSS
should not be coded with the FV indicator except in cases involving
family violence. Good cause exemptions not involving family violence
should not be coded as family violence cases.

**Mississippi, Volume VI Section C**

**Issued 10-01-98 Page 3326**

**\* \* \***

**Protective Safeguards**

The child support worker must place strong emphasis on the custodial
parent's obligation to cooperate with DCSE and exactly what is expected
so that there is no misunderstanding about the nature of that
obligation.

[At the time of the custodial parent's first contact/interview with
DCSE, the child support worker will provide notice of the good cause
exception verbally and by providing MDHS-CSE-616, *Child Support For
Your Family's Benefit and Protection*.]{.underline} Since family
violence victims may be reluctant to discuss their situation, no mother
or other caretaker should be precluded from raising family violence
concerns at a later date, if she does not make a claim at the initial
interview.

If it appears that there are family violence issues in a case, the
worker will explain the child support process to the custodial parent
and explain that her privacy can be safeguarded. APPD.CASE will be coded
with the family violence indicator and information about the location of
the mother and child(ren) will be protected from disclosure to the
father and/or anyone, unless disclosure is ordered by a court. APPD.CLNT
will be coded for good cause exemption. After these safeguards are
explained, the child support worker and the custodial parent should
determine whether these protective devises offer sufficient protection
to make it feasible to pursue child support.

Mississippi, Volume VI

MDHS-CSE-620

Issued 07-01-97

**NOTICE OF CLAIMS OF GOOD CAUSE FOR FAILURE TO COOPERATE**

To: Research and Statistics Re:

Custodial Parent

From:

Division of Child Support Enforcement Case Number

A. The custodial parent named above has claimed to have good cause for
failure to cooperate in establishing paternity and/or obtaining child
support for the child(ren):

whose noncustodial parent is . The basis of the claim is:

-   Potential physical harm to child (with corroborative evidence).

-   Potential physical harm to child (without corroborative evidence).

-   Potential emotional harm to child.

-   Potential physical harm to custodial parent (with corroborative
    evidence).

-   Potential physical harm to custodial parent (without corroborative
    evidence).

-   Potential emotional harm to custodial parent.

-   Conception result of incest or forcible rape.

-   Legal adoption before court.

-   Custodial parent receiving preadoption services.

The date the good cause claim was made .

B. (Complete at the time a decision is made regarding good cause.) The
claim of this custodial parent was  accepted  rejected. The decision is
based on evidence supplied by the  custodial parent only  obtained by us
only  combination of evidence supplied/obtained by custodial parent and
us on , 19\_\_. The claim was made  prior to  after, the family was
 approved  denied closed for TANF.

Signature and Title Date

Below is a sample Mississippi screen that illustrates the family
violence data field. (That field is set out in bold print.)

xx/xx/xx SUPPORT APPLICATION \-- SUB-CASE STATUS (CASE) METSS

XX:XX XXXXXXX

\_\_ SUB-CASE STATUS \_\_\_ CLOSURE MO DA YEAR

TYPE CODE MO DA YEAR REASON CNTY CSEO LEGAL AP ACTION:

XX X XX XX XXXX \_\_\_\_ XXX XXX XXX SUB-CASE ACTION: XX XX XX XXXX

LEGAL REF: XX XX XX XXXX

MAO CASE ID CREATE DATE APPL REQUEST APPL SENT APPL REC'D CASE

OPEN DT

\_\_\_ \_\_ \_\_\_\_\_ XX XX XXXX \_\_ \_\_ \_\_\_\_\_ \_\_ \_\_
\_\_\_\_\_ \_\_ \_\_ \_\_\_\_\_ XX XX XXXX

FOSTER MS FEE AFDC SERV EXPIRATION NO CHK BYPASS CERTIFICATION MESC

PLACEMENT CRT PAID SUSP RQST FS MO DA YEAR FLAG IRS YEAR STATE YEAR SUPP

\_ \_\_\_\_\_ \_\_\_\_\_ XX \_\_ XX XX XXXX \_\_ \_\_ \_\_\_\_\_\_\_ X
\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ \_\_

\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*OTHER AGENCY CASE
DATA\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*

FIPS CODES STATE \_\_\_\_\_\_ AGENCY NAME
\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

CONTACT AGENCY ID: [XXXXXXXX]{.underline} (OFFICE NAME)

PAY TO AGENCY ID: [XXXXXXXX]{.underline} (OFFICE/ENTITY NAME)

CASE IDENT: [X]{.underline} INTERSTATE SERVICE REQUESTED:

LAST COURT ACTION: DATE:

CONTACT PERSON: [(NAME)]{.underline} PHONE: [XXX-XXX-XXXX]{.underline}

COMMENT:

## FAMILY VIOLENCE INVOLVED: \_\_\_\_\_

USR: XXX CSEO: XXX FNX: APPD MODE: C ID: XXXXXXXXX X DOE, JOHN

PRD: XX XX CO: CMD: \_\_\_\_\_ CP: XXXXXXXXX DOE, JANE