Leadership

OCSE Commissioner Vicki Turetsky oversees the child support program operated by each state and many tribes.

Commissioner Turetsky brings more than 30 years of experience as a public administrator and advocate for low-income families. She is a nationally recognized expert in family policy and has been instrumental in boosting child support payments to families.  Due to Commissioner Turetsky’s efforts, OCSE has established realistic child support policies that encourage fathers to play an active parenting role, both financially and emotionally.

Read more about Commissioner Turetsky and OCSE on the Commissioner's Voice Blog.

Today, too many children in our country grow up without such support and guidance.  A father's absence is felt by children, families, and communities in countless ways, leaving a hole that can have lasting effects. Their absence is also felt by mothers, who work overtime and double shifts, put food on the table, and care for children alone while trying to make ends meet. And it is felt in our communities, when boys grow up without male leaders to inspire them.

My Administration has made supporting fathers and their communities a priority. Last year on Father's Day, I announced the President's Fatherhood and Mentoring Initiative, a nationwide effort to support organizations that foster responsible fatherhood and help re-engage fathers in the lives of their children. We have bolstered community and faith-based programs that provide valuable support networks for fathers. We are also promoting work-life balances that benefit families, and partnering with businesses across America to create opportunities for fathers and their children to spend time together. And military leaders are joining in our efforts to help families keep in touch when a dad is deployed overseas, so the fathers who serve to protect all our children can stay connected to their own.

—Excerpt from President Obama’s Proclamation on Father’s Day 2011