Alameda Child Support Listens to the Community, Engages Employers

On August 18th, 2016, Alameda County Department of Child Support Services (ACDCSS) held the first of a series titled, “Listening Sessions” aimed at learning how the community perceives and is impacted by child support.

The first session brought together a diverse group of fathers to have a conversation about their personal experiences with child support.  The open-ended format of the session allowed the participants to share freely about the challenges they face in supporting their children while navigating a complex system.  The stories and data collected from the listening sessions will be compiled into a report with findings and recommendations for further improving service delivery to the community.
 
The next "Listening Sessions" is scheduled for Thursday, August 25th. ACDCSS will hold a session for mothers to share their experiences, as well as one for Spanish speakers. 

Listening Session participants prepare to discuss child support.

ACDCSS will close out CSAM with an Employer Workshop on August 31st.  The event is a collaboration with other local child support agencies including Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco, San Mateo, and Solano counties. The goal is to strengthen partnerships with employers and provide education and resources to enable them to better fulfill their pivotal role in the collection of child support.  The event will be simulcast on the web so that employers throughout the state can participate.
 
For more information or to register for upcoming events, please go to: http://www.acdcss.org/

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By: Leon Fernando
Community Relations Manger
Alameda County Department of Child Support Services