Why the Child Support Program Must Speak Out Against Cuts to SNAP, Medicaid, and Other Supports for Families

In times of political uncertainty, when key social support programs like SNAP and Medicaid come under threat, there’s often a strong institutional inclination to stay quiet. The logic is familiar to child support: these aren’t “our” programs. We recognize that speaking out carries risk in today’s political climate. Taking a stand — especially as a public agency or child support organization — can feel like overstepping our mission or drawing unwanted attention. But silence, even well-intentioned silence, is not neutrality. And it’s not leadership.

The child support program does not exist in isolation. We are part of a broader ecosystem of public systems designed to help parents support their children and build toward stability and well-being. When that ecosystem is weakened, our families feel the impact — and so do we. Cuts to SNAP, Medicaid, housing assistance, and cash supports don’t just reduce a family’s safety net. They destabilize the very households we work with, often pushing them further from self-sufficiency.

The Connection Is Clear

Consider this:

●  Medicaid covers both children and parents in low-income families, making it one of the few systems that supports the entire caregiving unit. It covers more than 40% of all children in the U.S., and in states that have expanded Medicaid, it also provides health insurance for millions of low-income parents. When parents are healthy — physically and mentally — they’re more likely to maintain employment, care for their children, and meet their child support responsibilities. Parental access to Medicaid has been linked to reductions in financial hardship, improved maternal mental health, and better outcomes for children.

●        SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) lifts about 3 million children out of poverty each year and reduces food insecurity by up to 30%. Children in households receiving SNAP have better health outcomes, improved school performance, and long-term earnings potential.

●  A cut to SNAP or Medicaid doesn’t just reduce short-term support — it undermines future economic mobility. Children who receive these benefits are more likely to graduate from high school and less likely to rely on public assistance as adults.

●  Families face evictions, school disruptions, and financial instability when housing supports shrink. These pressures directly affect a parent’s capacity to comply with child support orders — and a child’s ability to thrive.

We know that the best outcomes for children come when their parents have access to consistent income, healthcare, stable housing, and nutrition. Child support is a piece of that puzzle. But it’s only a piece.

(Sources: USDA, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, Medicaid.gov)

Why We Must Speak

Remaining silent as other family support programs are dismantled undercuts the mission of the child support program. It suggests that we can support children without protecting the services that are instrumental to their health and happiness. We can’t. And we shouldn’t pretend we can.

There is power in alignment. When public systems stand together to advocate for families, we create a stronger, more coherent voice. We also build trust with the communities we serve, showing them that we see their full humanity — not just their compliance with our individual policies. The Center for Child Support Policy (CCSP) believes it’s time for everyone who believes in lifting children out of poverty to speak out. Children need and deserve to come first.

What Programs and Associations Can Do

Child support programs and professional associations have a unique responsibility — and opportunity — to use their collective voice and position to protect the broader safety net for families. Here are ways your program or association can lead NOW:

● Issue Public Statements of Support

When programs like SNAP or Medicaid are threatened, child support agencies and associations can publicly express solidarity. A short statement acknowledging the connection between these supports and child well-being reinforces your mission and helps normalize advocacy across human services.

● Join or Form Cross-System Coalitions

Team up with other public agencies, nonprofits, and advocacy groups to oppose harmful cuts and promote policies that support whole families. These coalitions can amplify your message and show elected officials that programs are united.

● Submit Comments on Proposed Rule Changes

When federal or state agencies propose changes that impact family supports, your program or association can submit official comments as part of the public record. This is a concrete, nonpartisan way to influence policy.

● Educate Members and Stakeholders

Use newsletters, conferences, or webinars to highlight how programs like SNAP and Medicaid intersect with child support outcomes. Share research, family stories, and tools to equip practitioners to speak knowledgeably and confidently.

● Advocate with Policymakers

Associations in particular can play a critical role in educating legislators and budget officials about the downstream effects of program cuts. This advocacy can include briefing papers, legislative visits, and public testimony.

● Model Integration

Some child support programs are piloting integrated service models that include co-location with health, housing, or food support providers. Demonstrating how these partnerships work in practice can inspire broader systems change.

What Child Support Professionals Can Do

Speaking up as a program is important — but so is action at every level. Here are a few ways child support professionals can stand in solidarity with families and strengthen the broader system of health and human services:

● Educate colleagues and stakeholders about how SNAP, Medicaid, and other programs impact the families you serve. Use data and real stories from your work to make the connection clear.

● Build cross-agency partnerships with health, human services, and food assistance programs. Collaborate on outreach, referrals, and coordinated case management that supports the whole family.

● Advocate internally. Encourage agency leadership to issue statements or join coalitions defending these essential supports. Policy advocacy doesn’t have to be partisan — it can be values-driven and grounded in mission.

● Stay informed and vote. Cuts to social programs often happen quietly, through budget bills or administrative rules. Pay attention to proposed changes, share reliable information with peers, and participate in local and national elections.

This Is About Community

Most families we serve are impacted by a network of public programs, not just one. As the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., aptly observed, “Whatever affects one directly affects all indirectly.” We owe it to our sister programs — and to our mission — to acknowledge that connection and act accordingly. That means lending our voice when the stability of those programs is threatened. It means being clear that our work in child support cannot succeed if the broader supports for families are being dismantled.

We are part of something bigger. And in moments like this, that means choosing solidarity over silence.

About the Center for Child Support Policy

The Center for Child Support Policy (CCSP) is a nonpartisan nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing child support laws and practices that put children and families first. We advocate for common-sense, evidence-based reforms that promote economic stability, parental engagement, and fairness—because every child deserves support. Follow us on LinkedIn at:

https://www.linkedin.com/company/child-support-policy/