August is National Child Support Enforcement month. It's estimated unpaid child support nationwide totals more than $106 billion.

It can be a lengthy and frustrating process for custodial parents who are attempting to collect the money they're owed. However, another option is to hire a private collection company.

Single mom Mary Ellen Reeves Figinsky turned to Support Kids, a private collection agency, after numerous attempts to collect child support including hiring an attorney.

Figinsky's daughter, Felicia, is a sophomore at the University of Texas and her son, Mark is a senior at Georgetown High School.

Fourteen years ago, the Figinsky's divorced and the dad moved out of state.

"And then we were just entirely on our own," said Figinsky.

 After becoming a client of Support Kids, Figinsky finally began receiving child support.

"In 2001, I received my first money from them. And so far I have over 20 thousand dollars that I've gotten from Support Kids," added Figinsky.

 Support Kids is the largest private child support collection agency in the nation. It was founded 15 years ago by a former staff member of the Texas attorney general's child support division. The Attorney General's office estimates it collects and distributes $2 billion in child support each year.  But when it comes to tracking non‑paying parents, Support Kids says it has the edge.

"Because we're nationwide, we go after parents all over the country," explained Vanessa Diaz.  Diaz is the vice president of Support Kids as well as a former client.

Unlike the state, Support Kids case workers have a limited caseload and aggressive investigators who get results.

 "We locate anywhere from between 80 to 85 percent of the individuals and we are able to collect on about 50 percent of those that we do locate," said Diaz.

 Support Kids receives about a third of what it collects but only after the delinquent parent pays up.

Figinsky says it's worth the cost.

"It's a little bit less than a third, but for me, for me it was definitely worth it because before I didn't have anything. Nothing for years," said Figinsky.

Support Kids receives 50,000 calls a month from custodial parents asking for help collecting child support.