COLUMBUS — Frustrated with the state's efforts to fix its malfunctioning child support system, an advocacy group wants a court to step in and speed things up.

        A lawsuit filed Friday by the Association for Children for the Enforcement of Support asks the state Court of Appeals in Franklin County to order the state to quickly send millions of dollars in delayed, lost and illegally withheld child support payments to thousands of single-parent families living in Ohio.

        The group's appeal to the court comes after Ohio Department of Job and Family Services officials predicted it will take months to end delays in sending some checks, and to find thousands of families owed up to $8 million in illegally withheld support payments.

        Geraldine Jensen, president of the Toledo-based ACES group, said she thinks the state could owe $13 million in withheld payments. She also estimates families are missing another $12 million in delayed payments and in federal income tax refunds held longer than a maximum six months.

        “We have no confidence in what the state is telling us,” Ms. Jensen said. “We're hoping the court will quickly order the state to take action.”

        State agency officials and Gov. Bob Taft's office were tight-lipped, citing policies that forbid comment on pending cases.

        “We are working hard as a team to improve the administration of these programs to make sure families that deserve greater compensation get it,” said Kevin Kellems, Mr. Taft's spokesman.

        “I can say that we do have a plan in place to address the issues that were identified,” said Jon Allen, Job and Family Services spokesman.

        The agency hopes to change its computer system by April 1 to stop subtracting money from some payments sent to families who recently got off welfare.

        A 1997 federal law bars states from capturing portions of support payments to replenish welfare funds. That change was never factored into a new state collection system that started operating in October.

        Mr. Allen also disputes ACES' claim that the agency is holding onto federal income tax refunds from back child-support payments longer than the maximum six months. Ms. Jensen estimates the state has held as much as $6 million in refunds for well more than six months.

Fungus halts UC heart transplants
Three men die in Corryville fire
Pressure on child support
Probation chief understands the pressure
Car fire victim returns home
Elm St. to open from riverfront
Neighbors to vote on erecting gates
UC deficit could force 200 job cuts
Woman admits smuggled-pot plot
HOWARD: Neighborhoods
MCNUTT: Hamilton
350-plus bridges rated poor
Dayton schools asking judge to lift busing order
Falmouth mayor faces probe
Former teacher accused of sex with high school senior
Helicopters now used in Ky. logging
Kids could return Tuesday
Ky. House passes bill aimed at trash cleanup
Lawsuit charges profiling
Lebanon sues former director to try to reclaim buyout cash
Levy request looms for Kings
Political foe's apology averts slander case
Prosecutors say inmate tried to hire 'hit man' to kill witness
Why drive to courthouse?
Kentucky News Briefs
Tristate A.M. Report