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Assistance is not to be denied, delayed, or discontinued depending upon a good cause claim determination on cooperation, if all other eligibility requirements are met.

The Child Support Bureau will not undertake activities to establish paternity or to secure support when notified that an individual has claimed good cause.

The determination of whether good cause exists is to be made by the DFR within 45 days of the date on which the good cause claim is made. 2436.10.10.05

CHILD SUPPORT GOOD CAUSE CIRCUMSTANCES (C)

The policy stated in this section only applies to Two-Parent TANF and Regular TANF.

Good cause may be established if cooperation by the recipient parent/caretaker relative or non- recipient parent/caretaker relative would be against the best interests of the child only if:

The recipient parent/caretaker relative's or non-recipient parent/caretaker relative’s cooperation in establishing paternity or securing support can reasonably be anticipated to result in: • Physical harm to the child for who support is to be sought. • Emotional harm to the child for who support is to be sought. • Physical harm to the parent/caretaker relative with whom the child is living, which reduces the parent/caretaker relative's capacity to adequately care for the child; or • Emotional harm to the parent/caretaker relative with whom the child is living, of such nature or degree that it reduces the parent/caretaker relative's capacity to adequately care for the child. • Physical or emotional harm to either of the child’s biological parents.

Proceeding to establish paternity or to secure support would be detrimental to the child due to the existence of at least one of the following circumstances: • The child for whom support is sought was conceived because of incest or forcible rape. • Legal proceedings for the adoption of the child are pending before a court of competent jurisdiction; or • The parent is currently being assisted by a public or licensed private social agency to resolve the issue of whether to keep the child or to relinquish them for adoption and the discussions have not gone on for more than three months. 2436.10.10.10

CHILD SUPPORT GOOD CAUSE CONSIDERATIONS (C)

The policy stated in this section only applies to Two-Parent TANF and Regular TANF.

Physical and emotional harm must be of a serious nature to justify a finding of good cause.

Emotional harm is based upon demonstration of an emotional impairment that substantially affects the individual's functioning. The following factors are to be considered when emotional