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Knox County Job & Family Services reports rising child support collections, marks 50th anniversary of enforcement program
Summary
Knox County Job & Family Services told commissioners on Aug. 21 that current child support collections sit at about 76%, paternity establishment near 97%, and the office has collected $4,303,965.67 through July 31, 2025; staff highlighted outreach including Justice Bus legal clinics and SEEK work program referrals.
Derek Lowe, child support administrator for Knox County Job & Family Services, told county commissioners on Aug. 21 that the child support enforcement program is marking its 50th anniversary and that county performance is improving.
Lowe said Aug. is Child Support Awareness Month and described community outreach including a "support tree" display and a Justice Bus mobile legal clinic. "This year marks the fiftieth anniversary of the child support enforcement program," she said, adding the office staffed a First Friday outreach table and arranged an Aug. 28 Justice Bus expungement event at Opportunity Knocks.
The presentation focused on metrics commissioners said matter to families and county budgets. Lowe reported current support collections of about 76%, paternity establishment at roughly 97%, establishment of support orders around 94%, and arrearage collections near 70%. "As of July 31, we have collected $4,303,965.67 for children in Knox County," she said. Lowe also said there are 3,140 open child-support cases in the county and 467 active SEEK work program cases, which produced $529,699.62 in collections from January through July 2025.
Commissioners asked operational questions about fees and enforcement. Lowe confirmed the agency assesses a 2% processing fee on payments. Commissioners and staff discussed enforcement practices when payments stop, with one commissioner questioning whether incarceration helps collection and staff emphasizing that contempt and incarceration are pursued only after multiple opportunities to engage nonpaying parents and that courts determine incarceration.
The presentation closed with an exchange about outreach materials and a photo contest; commissioners asked to receive the fact sheet Lowe provided and for follow-up on the community outreach items. The office said it will post event information and links on social media and provide the commissioners with additional materials.
