By Erik Jones, Editor
During the April 8, 2025 meeting, the Lorain County Commissioners approved more than $2.5 million in service contracts to support the county’s child support enforcement operations through partnerships with local legal and court agencies.
The agreements, effective retroactively from January 1 through December 31, 2025, outline funding for services provided by the Lorain County Prosecutor’s Office, the Domestic Relations Court, and the Juvenile Division—each playing a vital role in administering and enforcing child support in the county.
What These Contracts Cover
The contracts are part of the annual funding mechanism used by the Lorain County Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA). Each agreement ensures CSEA has access to the legal, administrative, and judicial resources necessary to prosecute non-payment cases, enforce or modify support orders, process court filings, and resolve disputes involving custody and support of children.
These services are federally mandated and required to keep the county compliant with both Ohio Revised Code and federal Title IV-D child support enforcement programs.
Cost Breakdown by Agency
For the Lorain County Prosecutor’s Office, the CSEA will reimburse $949,786.13, with the local match contribution set at $489,283.77, bringing the total contract amount to $1,439,069.90.
For the Domestic Relations Court, the CSEA will reimburse $426,791.88, while the county covers $219,805.12, for a total of $646,596.00.
For the Juvenile Division, the CSEA will reimburse $289,835.50, with a local match of $149,309.20, totaling $439,144.70.
Total for 2025
The total combined amount for all three contracts is $2,524,810.60. Of that, approximately $1.67 million will be reimbursed by the federal government through CSEA. The remaining $850,000 will be paid through the county’s contractual services fund.
Why It Matters
These annual agreements are part of routine business for the commissioners, but they carry significant weight. Child support enforcement affects thousands of families across Lorain County, ensuring children receive the financial support they are entitled to. By partnering with the prosecutor and court systems, CSEA can pursue non-payment cases, adjust orders for changing circumstances, and maintain compliance with state and federal regulations.
During the meeting, commissioners approved the contracts unanimously without debate.