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1984
| Geraldine Jensen founded ACES, Association for Children for Enforcement of Support in Toledo, Ohio in 1984. |
1985
| Geraldine Jensen testified at the Ohio Senate and House of Representatives to lead a lobby effort to pass laws to collect child support using income withholding.
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1986
| Ms. Jensen coordinates an organizing effort to build ACES, which goes on to become largest child support advocacy organization in the U.S. with 400 chapters in 49 states |
1987
| First national candlelight vigil for children owed child support payments is held. Geraldine Jensen testifies before Congress to outline problems with state child support systems and to advocate for a national law for income withholding at time
of divorce or establishment of paternity. |
1988
| The Family Support Act is passed by Congress. It includes Ms. Jensen's initiatives for income withholding, mandatory
guidelines to determine the amount of support to be paid, and DNA testing for establishment of paternity . Ms Jensen designs and develops leadership training and advocacy courses for volunteers. Due to this effort, ACES leaders from 15 states are appointed by governors to state
child support guideline committees. Five states enact felony non-support laws due to ACES leaders advocacy. |
1989
| ACES holds first national "Golden Heart and Heartless Awards. ACES files a federal lawsuit against Texas
Attorney General's office. Ms. Jensen is appointed by President Regan to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Service's Advisory Committee. She successfully advocates for regulations for time frames for government child support agencies to follow to help ensure prompt service to needy families. |
1990
| Geraldine is one of 15 child support experts appointed by President George H. Bush and the U. S. Congress to the U.S. Interstate Commission on Child Support. |
1991
| Ms. Jensen's first book, "How To Collect Child Support" is published by Longmeadow Press. |
1992
| Geraldine testifies in front of the U.S House Judiciary Committee and Senate Finance Committee to advocate for criminal non support laws. Congress enacts the 1992 Child Support Recovery Act, which makes it a federal crime on interstate cases |
1993
| A total of 100,000 families entitled to child support contact ACES for information. ACES is featured on
several national TV shows and magazines. Thirty-four ACES leaders are appointed to serve on state child
support guideline committees. |
1994
| Ms. Jensen designs and develops a public relations and fund raising training for 400 local chapters Over 5,000 volunteers participate in the training sessions. The Status of Child Support in the U.S. a complete guide to child support laws and regulations in each state is published, written by Geraldine Jensen and her staff. |
1995
| ABC made for TV movie, "Abandoned and Deceived" airs. The movie is the story of Geraldine Jensen's Life and her founding of ACES. |
1996
| Ms Jensen writes a Blue Print for Child Support Reform as part of Welfare Reform. She testifies about the need for child support reform in the U.S. House of Representatives. Many of her recommendations are adopted in the welfare reform laws passed by Congress. |
| 1997
| Ms Jensen calls investigation of state government child support agencies who mishandled implementation of new child support computer systems, this results in an U.S. General Accounting Office investigation. |
| 1998
| Geraldine works with the U.S. Justice Department to write an update to the federal criminal non support laws. The Deadbeat Parents Punishment Act is enacted as result, making non-support federal felony offense. |
| 1999
| Ms. Jensen oversee opening of offices in Sacramento, Chicago and New York in addition to the national headquarters which was established in 1985. |
| 2000
| Ms. Jensen organizes lobby efforts to assist children of federal employees to receive medical support --- health insurance coverage. Congress mandates federal employees must provide health insurance for their children if a medical support order provides for insurance coverage. This new law provides at least 200,000 children obtain health insurance. |
| 2001
| Ms. Jensen calls for an investigation of state governments who have failed to distribute over $100 million in child support payments which have been collected. As a result the U.S. General Accounting Office undertakes an in depth investigation and files a report with congress.
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| 2003
| Geraldine leads an investigation into Ohio's failure to properly distribute child support payments to the poorest families. The investigation results in the State of Ohio refunding $15 million to families in need.
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| 2004
| Ms. Jensen Retires from ACES after 20 years of service. She founds Families Online Magazine and the Non Profit Help Center
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| 2005
| Families Online Magazine named Hotsite by USA Today.com and the Non Profit Help Center assists new non profit organizations get started.
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2006
| Families Online Magazine grows to include columns form 15 parenting and family experts
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2007
| Families Online Magazine has 250,000 monthly readers and 20 monthly columnist.
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