Board approves five-year Title 4-D cooperative agreement and related attorney contracts

The Board of Commissioners approved the 2025–2030 Title 4-D cooperative agreement, a five-year contract that sets performance measures and reimbursement rules for child support enforcement services. The agreement, negotiated among the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services Bureau of Child Support Enforcement, the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania, the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts (for the Court of Common Pleas), and local domestic relations offices, runs Oct. 1, 2025, through Sept. 30, 2030.

Don, Director of Domestic Relations, explained the agreement “outlines responsibilities for the improvement and the effectiveness of the child support, Title 4-D enforcement services.” He said the contract “provides performance measures for domestic relations to receive incentive funding, as well as allowing the county to seek reimbursement for child support expenses at the federal financial participation rate of 66% (county share 34%).”

Appendices within the cooperative agreement include a sheriff’s services agreement that enables monthly submission of direct and indirect costs for reimbursement and three contracts with Title 4-D attorneys. The board approved renewals with attorney Jennifer Bearely and Abigail Jones at $125 per hour (reimbursable at 66% federal/34% county) and authorized a new contract with Tonya Torquato at $125 per hour to replace retired attorney Kim Hamilton.

Don told commissioners the state Bureau of Child Support Enforcement preapproved the cooperative agreement and appended contracts. The board approved the contract renewal and appendices by voice vote (motion and second; vote recorded as “aye,” motion carries).