Accountability Court is a problem solving court that assists families by focusing on parents who are willing to pay child support and physically able to do so, but are not fulfilling their obligation to pay such support in a consistent manner due to an identified employment issue (unemployed, difficulty maintaining employment or underemployed/self employed). The Court assists these parents in identifying the barriers to noncompliance and connects them with resources in the community. The focus is to break down the barriers for parents so that they can consistently pay their court ordered child support payments in full and on time every month.

The Accountability Court is an intensive program that can last up to twelve months. The requirements of the program involve seeking and maintaining employment, as well as working with community providers to remove any barriers. Parents involved with Accountability Court may be ordered to work with an employment resource or agency that will meet with parents and discuss issues preventing stable employment. These issues may range from homelessness, criminal background, lack of skills, substance abuse, mental illness, etc. Accountability Court and Community partners work with parents who are willing to make changes in their lives as they begin the road to stable employment.

Accountability Court partners with community agencies that can provide one or all of the following services:

• Employment assistance including job search, job retention or career development.
• Resume and interview assistance; one on one or with training classes.
• Transportation assistance related to employment.
• Skills development related to employability (examples; anger management, conflict resolution, stress management, interview coaching, or similar skill development training).
• Or complete an assessment of client's barriers to employability and develop a plan to remove barriers through your agency or through referrals to partner agencies.

Each community partner will be responsible for overseeing any treatment services that foster a parents ability to maintain consistent employment as well as monitoring and tracking a parents progress in achieving employment. Community partners report a parents progress to the court on a regular basis.

Employment-Accountability Court is working to bring employment resources to you!

St. Joseph the Worker, A non profit organization who works to transform lives through employment, has a 39 foot RV that is called the Mobile Success Unit (MSU), which is outfitted with all the job development essentials of their main facility, such as Job Developers (Outreach Employment Specialists), professional clothing, computers, printer, etc., to meet employable individuals where they are and successfully help them to find work. St. Joseph the Worker also conducts a job readiness workshop at Tent City Jail, for those who are incarcerated, on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month from 12:30-3:30. For upcoming locations hosting the MSU or to learn more about St. Joseph the Worker please visit the website.

Arizona@Work: Various offices across the valley

Father Matters: A nonprofit organization who offer parenting classes, support groups, job & training classes, Reentry Mentoring Program, child support service assistance and other no cost services to all parents, not just fathers.

Goodwill Job Preparation & Placement with various locations Valley wide.

Check these links out for updated hiring events Valley Wide:
Human Services Department
Department of Economic Security
Free training in the Food Service Industry

Child Support Modification -The court has a comprehensive Law Library Resource Center and offers workshops. If you need assistance with modifying your child support obligation please ensure that you complete a worksheet and review the Arizona Child Support Guidelines or consult an attorney. Some parents who file to modify their child support obligation mistakenly believe their amount should be lower. The Arizona Child Support Guidelines were adopted by the Arizona Supreme Court in June 2011. The Guidelines follow the Income Shares Model, which was developed by the Child Support Guidelines Project of the National Center for State Courts. The total child support amount approximates the amount that would have been spent on the children if the parents and children were living together. Each parent contributes his/her proportionate share of the total child support amount. The Guidelines use each parents "gross" income and does not calculate a parents debt or bills into the calculation.

Access the child support calculator

The Family Court Department offers free workshops that may assist you in modifying your child support order. Visit "Workshop Events" for dates, times and locations

View resources for legal assistance.

The Law Library Resource Center.

Find a variety of available resources here: 2-1-1 Arizona