Welcome to Kenosha County Child Support Services

Our program promotes stable, safe and healthy relationships between parents and children and collaborates with our community to put children first, strengthen families, and encourage responsible parenthood.

September 2025

Kenosha County officials recently celebrated the 50th anniversary of the federal program that helps parents provide and care for their children through child support orders.

County Executive Samantha Kerkman joined members of Kenosha County’s child support services team in presenting a proclamation honoring the program, which President Gerald R. Ford established in 1975.

Since that time, the national program has collected more than $786 billion in child support payments, helping to reduce child poverty while strengthening family economic independence and supporting better social and health outcomes for families.

“The longevity of the child support program speaks to the talented and dedicated professionals who work tirelessly to ensure that all Wisconsin children and youth are supported and cared for members of thriving families and communities,” said Dustin Feeney, director of the Kenosha County Division of Workforce Development and Past-President of the Wisconsin Child Support Enforcement Association.

Locally, Kenosha County’s child support staff are responsible for locating absent parents, establishing legal obligations for child support, adjudicating paternity, monitoring payment activities, enforcing support obligations, and maintaining financial case records related to child support orders.

Kerkman noted that in addition to enforcing payment orders, child support programming connects parents to important services to help them develop strong and healthy relationships with their children.

The child support system interacts regularly with the courts, where Kenosha County Circuit Judge Chad Kerkman offered praise for the county team that administers the program.

“Kenosha County Child Support does an amazing job ensuring the children of our community are financially supported by their families,” Judge Kerkman said. “These efforts significantly reduce reliance on the taxpayers for support.”

Questions about why you are going to court or what will happen at court? Please see our answers to those questions for Establishment, Paternity, Paternity Acknowledgment or Administrative Paternity Hearings:
- How it Works - Establishment Hearing
- How it Works - Paternity Hearing
- How it Works - Paternity Acknowledgment or Administrative Paternity Hearing
- How it Works - Modification Hearing
- How it Works - Contempt Hearing

Kenosha County Child Support Services’ mission and purpose is derived from title IV-D of the Social Security Act:

To enhance the well-being of children by assuring that assistance in obtaining support, including financial and medical, is available to children through locating parents, establishing paternity, establishing support obligations, and monitoring and enforcing those obligations.

What is Child Support