The Child Support Enforcement Division (CSED) does not have the authority to address custody and visitition issues on behalf of either parent. The CSED can only assist in the establishment of paternity and the establishment and enforcement of a child support order. The CSED is focused on making sure the non-custodial parent lives up to his/her financial responsibility in raising the child.

The CSED, however, realizes that a parent's responsibilities do not begin or end with financial support. In order for a child to receive the fullest upbringing possible, the child must have the financial and emotional support of both parents. The more involved both parents are in the raising of the child, the better off the child will be.

Realizing the importance of both parents being involved with the child, the CSED has initiated a pilot project called Visitation Involvement Parenting (VIP), in which the CSED provides mediation services for the parents to establish a plan for access and visitation so that the child will have the benefit of both parents taking an active role in their life. The VIP Program also provides employment and training services for the non-custodial parent so that he/she can adequately provide financial support for the child and the VIP Program will provide instruction to both parents on how to request help from the Family Court to enforce the visitation order.

As a pilot program, the CSED can only provide the VIP Program in the following counties: Beaufort, Chester, Colleton, Fairfield, Jasper, Kershaw, Lancaster, Newberry, Orangeburg, and Richland. In order for the VIP Program to be available to you, both parents must live in one of these counties or the non-custodial parent must live in one of these counties and the custodial parent must agree to travel to the county where the non-custodial parent lives for any classes or mediation sessions.

If you are interested in the VIP Program in Beaufort, Colleton, or Jasper Counties, please contact:

Mahalia Campbell
VIP Program, Colleton County
215 S. Lemacks St.
Walterboro, SC 29488
Phone: (843)549-1894
Email: Mahalia.Campbell@dss.sc.gov

If you are interested in the VIP Program in Chester, Fairfield, Kershaw, Lancaster, Newberry, Orangeburg, or Richland Counties, please contact:

Linda Cook
VIP Program
Columbia Child Support Office
PO Box 1270
3150 Harden Street Ext., Suite 103
Columbia, SC 29202-1270
Phone: (803)898-9350 or 1-800-768-5858
Email: Linda.Cook@dss.sc.gov

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