NEW CARLISLE, Ohio -- Kim Robinson sought support for her children over the last 11 years, but without much to show for it.

The father of her two children owes $35,000 in back support and another $50,000 in medical bills.

She blamed her ex-husband most, but also pointed to the child support enforcement system.

"To me it's neglect. When you are not taking care of your child, it's neglect. If I didn't take care of them I would go to jail. They should crack down on them harder than what they do," Robinson said.

An arrest warrant has been issued for her ex-husband, but he has not been picked up yet.

Robinson's back child support is part of $3.7 billion owed statewide in Ohio by 418,626 non-custodial parents..

Authorities who run the system said while some cases continue to be a tough challenge, the broader picture has improved.

Legislative changes made over the last 10 years gave the state and counties new weapons in the battle for child support dollars.

Parents who refuse to pay their child support can have their driver's licenses revoked. They can also have their income tax refunds intercepted. Their bank accounts can even be frozen and seized by county child support agencies.

Those changes have produced results.

Doug Thompson, deputy director for child support at the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, said collections have nearly doubled over the last decade.

"The stats speak for themselves: $1 billion in 1997. We're now collecting nearly $2 billion," Thompson said.

County agencies have tried to take creative steps to collect child support money that is owed.

Virginia Martycz of the Clark County Child Support Agency said its collection rate is 63 percent.

Her agency even blocked the passport application of a man who wanted to go on a cruise.

The man could not obtain the passport until he paid all of the $26,000 he owed.

Martycz said her agency is working harder on cracking the toughest cases, in which the parent who owes back support might drive even after their license is suspended or work for cash.

"On a national and state level, we're trying to get into that underground economy. We don't ever give up," Martycz said.

Even if it takes decades, parents may eventually see the money begin to flow.

Martycz said they are now going after back child support from noncustodial parents when they begin to receive Social Security.

"Child support debt is debt forever and we will go after it," Martycz said.

Still, Robinson remains skeptical that she will ever see any of the money that is owed to her.

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