NECSRS Home > Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

NECSRS Questions

1. What is NECSRS?
2. What is the benefit of using NECSRS?
3. How do I navigate (move around) the NECSRS Web site?
4. Why is some of the text underlined and a different color?
5. How do I go back to a NECSRS topic after I have activated hypertext or a hyperlink?
6. What hardware is necessary to effectively use NECSRS?
7. What software is necessary to effectively use NECSRS?
8. How do I search for information using NECSRS?
9. How do I find Federal child support legislative information on NECSRS?
10. Who is responsible for updating the information in NECSRS?

Internet Related Questions

1. How do I search for information on Internet?
2. How do I download information to my system?

Terms and Glossary

• Glossary of Child Support Enforcement Terms

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NECSRS Questions 

1.  What is NECSRS? 

NECSRS is the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Office of Child Support Enforcement's (OCSE) National Electronic Child Support Resource System.  NECSRS is used to identify and electronically index Federal, State, and local resource materials, facilitate access to Federal and State resource materials to child support enforcement professionals and the public, and to disseminate materials in the most efficient and user-friendly manner possible. 

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2.  What is the benefit of using NECSRS? 

NECSRS Objectives

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3. How do I navigate (move around) the NECSRS Web site? 

Several features are provided to assist you with navigating the NECSRS Web site. We suggest taking a stroll through our Web site by using the navigation buttons at the top and on the left of each page.  It is probably the easiest way to get to know your way around.  Simply click on a button with your mouse and jump to that topic in the Web site. These buttons are known as hyperlinks. 

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4. Why is some of the text underlined and a different color? 

Text which is underlined and a different color is known as hypertext.  You will notice that as you move your mouse pointer over hypertext, the cursor becomes a pointing hand.  Hypertext contains a link to another related area of the Web site or to a different Web site entirely.  To activate the hypertext link, click on any area of the text. For example, each question on this page is followed by hypertext which allows you to jump back to the top of the page. 

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5.  How do I go back to a NECSRS topic after I have activated hypertext or a hyperlink? 

To return to a previous topic, the Netscape Navigator browser toolbar contains a forward and a backward button.  If you select the backward button, you will jump back to the previous Web page.  If you have gone backward and desire to jump forward again, click on the forward button. 

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6.  What hardware is necessary to effectively use NECSRS? 

Today you need to have a 486 or Pentium computer and at least 16 megabytes (MB) of random access memory (RAM) to operate software programs without significant delays for objects to appear on the computer screen. Most software is developed for use with some form of a Windows operating system that will require a VGA or super VGA monitor and graphic adapter card capable of higher graphic resolutions (the higher the resolution the better the picture will be). If you desire to browse the web and send/receive images quickly, you will also need to have a system that has an Internet connection via a high-speed modem (28.8 or higher, 56k preferred) or a local area network (LAN). In most cases, the faster the line speed the faster the images will be displayed on your screen when you are "surfing" the Internet.

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7.  What software is necessary to effectively use NECSRS? 

Today's browser software provides you with some amazing capabilities. The two predominant Internet browsers on the market are Netscape Navigator and Microsoft Explorer. In order to use all of the features available in our Web site, you will need to have installed on your computer or download Netscape Navigator software (version 3.0 or better) or Microsoft Internet Explorer (version 3.0 or better). Older versions of browser software are not capable of interpreting some Web pages. 

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8.  How do I search for information using NECSRS? 

You may search for information by the subject or resource category.

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9.  How do I find Federal child support legislative information on NECSRS?

NECSRS links to many documents residing on "Thomas," the U.S. Library of Congress' site for Federal legislation on the Internet. When you perform a search that lists a document contained in Thomas, you merely need to click on the hypertext link (the underlined, colored text) to pull up that particular document. If, however, you would like to directly search for child support-specific bills on Thomas, or to see bill status, co-sponsors, text of the bill, votes or references in the Congressional Record, click on the hypertext link above. Thomas' Home Page will appear in a few seconds. On the left side of the screen under "Quick Search of Bills, 106th Congress," you can either Search by Bill Number (if known) by entering it in the box indicated, or Search by Word/Phrase by typing "child support" in the appropriate space. (Use quotation marks to bring up all bills which contain that exact phrase.) Click on the Search button. Thomas will then list all bills introduced in the current Congress that contain "child support." When this list appears, you can look at each bill individually by clicking on its hypertext link You'll then have the option of looking at bill summary, bill text, Congressional Record citations, etc.

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10.  Who is responsible for updating the information in NECSRS?

The NECSRS project team is responsible for maintaining the NECSRS Web site and coordinating the information content. Federal agencies, States, Tribes, and localities (as authorized by the State/Tribal Administrator) can also coordinate with the NECSRS project team to have their child support enforcement resource material information on their Web site made available to NECSRS users. The owning organization (e.g., the State or Tribe) will maintain control of the resource material content and is responsible for updating the individual resource materials.

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Internet Related Questions

1.  How do I search for information on Internet? 

There are a variety of search engines available to search the Internet.  These engines are powerful tools which enable users to search for very specific pieces of information.  A variety of companies provide search engines which require the input of keywords or phrases to begin a search, with the ability to refine your initial search as required. 

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2. How do I download information to my system? 

Many Web sites that allow you to download information will provide you with instructions. You can download files or even download software to install on your computer (e.g., a later version of an Internet browser). If you are downloading a file from the Internet go to the file menu of your browser and save the file to a location on your computer's hard disk. If you are downloading software programs from the Internet you should determine if the software requires any extra computer parts or software to operate properly on your computer. This information is normally provided on the web site you are visiting. Both Netscape and Microsoft provide easy to follow instructions for downloading the latest versions of their browsers.

Download MS Internet Explorer Here

Download Netscape Navigator Here

Note: It is recommended that you use virus scanning software to check any files you download from the Internet for viruses.

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