When a parent receives certain types of public assistance, the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) in the state may automatically open a child support case to identify the father (or other absent parent) of the child and enforce child support obligations. States have the option to require recipients of child care subsidies and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits to cooperate with child support agencies seeking to establish paternity and support orders; and to enforce child support obligations as a condition of eligibility (child support cooperation requirements).

In Arkansas, when a parent applies for or receives certain types of public assistance, such as Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), the state's Office of the Attorney General (OAG) may automatically initiate a child support case. This action is taken to establish the paternity of the child and enforce child support obligations from the non-custodial parent. Additionally, Arkansas may require individuals who receive child care subsidies and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits to cooperate with child support enforcement efforts as a condition of their eligibility. This cooperation includes providing information to assist in locating the non-custodial parent, establishing paternity, and setting up child support orders. Failure to cooperate without good cause can result in the loss of benefits. These measures are in place to ensure that parents who are able to contribute financially to their child's upbringing do so, thereby reducing the financial burden on public assistance programs.