Open Letter to the Illinois Legislators Regarding Pending Legislation Limiting Private Child Support Enforcment

by Lisa G. Johnson

Dear Senators,

I will only take a moment of your time, but feel I must at least try to make myself heard on this important bill. I have been down to Springfield twice in the last year, and have not been heard either time. I am not speaking on behalf of any company or agency. I am speaking solely as a single parent, attempting to raise a voice that has not yet been heard on this subject that ultimately affects single parents.

My circumstances are neither special nor rare. In fact, my story is entirely too common. I am a single parent who is owed child support, like thousands and thousands of others. I am writing today on behalf of all single parents like me, who had all but run out of options when the state could not collect support from an absent parent who simply would not pay. I ask that you see the importance of private agencies to real families. I would like to point out that, while the money is extremely important to the families who receive it, there is something much less tangible, but no less real that these agencies provide. That "something" is hope.

I have heard it implied and even heard it said that these private agencies are preying on innocent single parents who are too desperate and gullible to know better. I want you to know that this could not be further from the truth. By the time a custodial parent contacts a private agency for help, the last thing they are is gullible. They have exhausted all other avenues and have been told (as I was) that there is nothing more the state can do. By the time I contacted Supportkids, I had knew more about the "System" than anyone else I knew. I was jaded and cynical and cried when Supportkids told me not to give up just yet. They gave me hope when the state could not. When the state's resources were tapped, I still had one more option. I cannot relate to you how important and empowering that feeling is to a single parent. To find hope where there was none before is almost a gift in itself.

I want you to know that mine is one of Supportkids' most difficult cases. My son's father has run again and I am not currently receiving any support. I tell you this not to garner sympathy or pity, but rather so that you will realize that my testimony is unbiased. Illinois single parents deserve to have one more option when the state is unable to collect child support. Please look carefully at SB2380 and think forward to the effect it will have on these agencies. Private child support collection agencies work very hard to locate those who want to stay hidden. They work hard to collect much-needed money from those deadbeats who do not care. They work hard to put money and hope back into homes with little of either. There is no reason why they should do this for free.

As SB2380 is written now, it WILL hurt the single parents of Illinois. Please vote no on this bill.

Thank you.

Respectfully,
Lisa G. Johnson