In 2002, 4.7 million children lived apart from their mothers, up from 3.7 million in 1997. Understanding who these mothers are and how their children are faring is important for social policy in general and, specifically, for the child support program. Despite their large and growing numbers and policy relevance, nonresident mothers and their children have remained largely under the radar.1 Considerable research has been devoted to understanding nonresident fathers and their children, but this literature does not necessarily offer insight into nonresident mothers and their support of nonresident children.