Federal Parent Locator Services 624-05-15-41

(Revised 1/15/21 ML #3606)

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The North Dakota Department of Human Services or designee, in its provision of services under Title IV-E/IV-B of the Social Security Act, may have access to certain Child Support Enforcement Federal Parent Locator Service (FPLS) information for defined purposes. Information may only be accessed for the purpose of locating or facilitating the discovery of an individual who is a parent, alleged father, or relative of the child, as needed for IV-E/IV-B agencies to carry out their responsibilities of the IV-E/IV-B programs.

 

A search for an absent parent is required unless an individual has been granted ‘good cause’ for non-cooperation with the IV-D program (fear of serious physical or emotional harm to the child or parent). A copy of the custodian’s final decision that ‘good cause’ does exist and the basis for the findings must be included with the relative search documentation. Every six months, the custodian is required to review cases in which ‘good cause’ was previously found to exist. If it is determined circumstances have changed and ‘good cause’ no longer exists, a search for the absent parent must be made immediately.

 

To access the FPLS information the following steps must be followed:

  1. The case manager identifies a need to “locate” information. (Is the information needed for a parent, alleged father, or relative of the child, and is the purpose related to carrying out the responsibilities of the IV-E/IV-B programs?)
    • If the answer is “No” then FPLS information may not be requested.
    • If the answer is “Yes” then the case manager completes the Request for Use of the Federal Parent Locator Service (FPLS) for Child Welfare Services (SFN 1944).
  2. The completed form is emailed to the Field Service Specialist.
  3. The Field Service Specialist reviews the request for approval.
  4. The Field Service Specialist sends the approved SFN 1944 to the Child Support Enforcement State Parent Locator Service (SPLS) as an email attachment. (csespls@nd.gov)

 

State Parent Locator Services receives the request and processes it.  A request that includes sufficient information is submitted to FPLS the next Friday. (Federal law prohibits the disclosure of FPLS information on an individual for whom a IV-D program has placed a Family Violence Indicator (FVI). A FVI is placed on an individual when there is reason to believe that release of information may result in physical or emotional harm. Therefore, although uncommon, it may be that FPLS information will not be available due to the FVI.)  

 

FPLS uses a variety of powerful sources, many of which produce information that would otherwise be confidential. Federal law and regulations prescribe what information FLPS provides in response to a request. SPLS will usually receive FPLS responses one to two weeks after submittal. However, this varies depending on the source of the information.  

 

The SPLS worker sends the FPLS responses back to the Field Service Specialist via email. Upon receiving the FPLS responses, the Field Service Specialist provides the responses to the case manager by forwarding the email.