For years, countless fathers have successfully gotten away with not providing child support for their children. Tired of the fact, Arizona governor Doug Ducey is taking action to make a change. In January, he endorsed a deadbeat dad social media shaming campaign to bring attention to fathers who have remained under the radar in hopes of pressuring them into taking responsibility.

“For fathers out there who aren’t meeting their obligations, we have a plan,” Daniel Scarpinato with the governor’s office stated. “I’m talking to deadbeat dads. For too long, you’ve been able to remain anonymous — able to skirt your financial and legal responsibilities with no shame — not anymore,” (Azgovernor.gov).

Just two months old and Ducey’s campaign sees the program as extremely effective. They believe that what began as a tool to provide information to the public has turned into a serious calling for fathers in Arizona to step up and take responsibility for their children.

According to Kstar.com, since the program began, Scarpinato claims that he has received “300 tips — either from people who may have information about an individual or who want to get us information about someone — who they think could fall in this category.”

Ducey’s campaign has employed the hashtag “#deadbeat” around social media as well as set up the website Des.az.gov dedicated to seeking out information about child support evaders. Upon visiting the site, viewers will see mugshots of various parents with their full names listed, the amount of money they owe, monthly obligation, their last known whereabouts, and a number to call to give information.

There is also a note stating: “The Arizona Division of Child Support Services (DCSS) Child Support Evader programs seeks tips from the public to locate parents who are avoiding their court-ordered obligation to pay child support.”

There has been some opposition to the program, the main focus being Ducey’s boisterous approach to the issue. Some believe that this is a case of unnecessary public shaming. In a conference Ducey addressed the backlash stating, “If you don’t want your embarrassing — unlawful — and irresponsible behavior going viral: Man up, and pay up,” (cnn.com).