ACES, The Association for Children for Enforcement of Support. We banded together from 1984 until 2008 under the motto, “Together We Can” to improve child support laws and their enforcement throughout the USA. ACEs was founded by Geraldine Jensen in Toledo, Ohio.
Our History
“ACES”, Association for Children for Enforcement of Support – History of the Organization
ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF ACES
| 1984 | ACES is founded by Geraldine Jensen in Toledo, Ohio. ACES successfully advocated for legal representation for welfare and non-welfare families entitled to support. |
| 1985 | Income withholding at the time an order is entered during divorce or paternity. Law passes Ohio Legislature. This is ACES’ first legislative advocacy! ACES opens an office upstairs in the YWCA building in downtown Toledo. |
| 1986 | ACES becomes the largest child support advocacy organization in the U.S. with 45 chapters in Ohio and chapters in 16 other states. |
| 1987 | The first national candlelight vigil is held on April 27. ACES president Geraldine Jensen testifies before Congress to outline problems with state child support systems and to advocate for a law for income withholding at the time of divorce or establishment of paternity. |
| 1988 | Family Support Act is passed by Congress; it includes ACES suggestions for income withholding, mandatory guidelines, and paternity establishment. ACES leaders from 15 states are appointed by governors to state guideline committees. Five states enact felony non-support laws due to ACES advocacy. |
| 1989 | ACES holds its first national “Golden Heart and Heartless Awards.” ACES files a federal lawsuit against the Texas Attorney General’s office. ACES successfully advocates for regulations for time frames for government child support agencies to follow. |
| 1990 | U.S. Interstate Commission on Child Support is established. ACES is represented by Geraldine Jensen. ACES leaders in 18 states participate at a public hearing held by the Commission. |
| 1991 | ACES’ book, “How To Collect Child Support” is published by Longmeadow Press. |
| 1992 | Congress enacted the 1992 Child Support Recovery Act, which makes it a federal crime on interstate cases if the non-payor fails to pay for one year or is $5,000 behind, whichever occurs first. ACES chapters throughout the nation advocated for this new law! |
| 1993 | A total of 100,000 families entitled to child support contact ACES for information. ACES is featured on several national TV shows and magazines. Thirty-four ACES leaders are appointed to serve on state child support guideline committees. |
| 1994 | Mercy Hospital donates a $100,000 building! ACES has a new home! |
| 1995 | ABC made for TV movie, “Abandoned and Deceived” airs. The movie is the story of ACES founding and highlights the plight of families owed child support. |
| 1996 | ACES successfully advocates for the government to become a model employer for child support by the implementation of personnel policies that require government employees to meet Child Support obligations this policy is for all Federal Employees. Ten states and the cities of Chicago and Toledo followed by uniformly adopting these policies for State and City workers. |
| 1997 | ACES successfully advocates for a general accounting office investigation of the state's $2.6 billion expenditure on statewide child support computers that our member report doesn’t exist or are not working. GAO Report verifies ACES findings. ACES Chapter provided Welfare Reform information to families transitioning from welfare to self-sufficiency 88% of those who follow ACES programs become self-sufficient when Child Support payments are joined with available earned income. |
| 1998 | ACES successfully advocates for the Deadbeat Parents Punishment Act which makes it a federal felony for parents to evade child support obligations by crossing state lines. ACES received national media attention when LIfetime Cable TV re-airs ACES Movie, “Abandoned and Deceived”. the movie, starring Lori Laughlin, is the life story of ACES founder Geraldine Jensen and her sons Matt and Jake. |
| 1999 | ACES successfully advocates for a new statewide child support enforcement government system in California. the new system is no longer operated by county District Attorneys, rather a statewide uniform system is created which will be implemented throughout the state within the next two years. ACES opened a new state office in Nevada so ACES now has offices in Sacramento, CA, Reno, NV, Chicago, IL, and Long Island New York in addition to our National Headquarters in Toledo, OH. |
2000
| ACES organizes lobby efforts to assist children of federal employees to receive medical support. Congress acts to make federal employees have to provide health insurance for their children if a medical support order provides for insurance coverage, this assists at least 200,000 children in obtaining health insurance |
2001
| ACES calls for an investigation of the State government which has failed to distribute over $100 million in child support payments that have been collected. As a result, the U.S. General Accounting Office undertakes an in-depth investigation and files a report with Congress. |
2003
| ACES leads an investigation into Ohio’s failure to properly distribute child support payments to the poorest families, those who had been on welfare. The investigation resulted in the State of Ohio refunding $15 million to families in need. |
2004
| Ms. Jensen retires from ACES after 20 years of service. |
2008
| ACES Officially closes due to lack of funding, a victim of the Great Recession |
