The California Child Support guideline calculator is used to determine the amount of child support that may be ordered in different cases. Since tax rules are constantly changing, the calculator is required to be reviewed annually for accuracy by a certified public accountant (CPA) in order to be used by the court system and the California Department of Child Support Services (CA DCSS).
In March of this year it was found that the guideline calculator needed numerous updates due to recent changes in tax rules. The challenge put to the DCSS Technology Services Division (TSD) team was to find and correct the discrepancies so the
guideline calculator could be certified for use in determining child support orders.
That’s when Rachna Gaur, a Senior Programmer Analyst with the Application Development Unit of TSD, stepped in. Rachna had three months to get the application updated in order to pass certification, a lofty goal for even the most experienced technology professional.
To update the guideline calculator, Rachna researched the Java computer code behind the myriad calculations to understand the problem areas, and then modified the tax calculations so the resulting child support estimates would reflect current tax law. In one sentence it sounds simple, but it was incredibly complicated.
“I had no time to think negatively, I had to take ownership and finish the project,” Rachna said.
Previously, CA DCSS contractor Peter Wawro was the subject matter expert for the guideline calculator. He transferred his knowledge to Rachna before leaving the project, making her the primary subject matter expert. She credits Peter for her understanding and comfort level working on this very complex module. She felt that though initially the task was daunting, she was able to quickly overcome her fear and gather all of her knowledge and energies to meet the challenge. With her leadership, her team completed the required changes and met the certification deadline.
In recognition of her success and exemplary leadership in accepting and solving the challenge in record time, Rachna was presented a ribbon for outstanding effort by CA DCSS Director Alisha Griffin.
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| DCSS Director Alisha Griffin and Selis Koker of the Office of Legal Services present Rachna Gaur (middle) with an award for her outstanding effort |
Rachna states she would have never been able to finish her part in the project without the help of her team. She is especially grateful to Peter Wawro, whom she considers her mentor, and Stella Chu, who represented the policy team on the project and coordinated with the CPA. Rachna’s advice to anyone going through a demanding challenge is to “stay cool, take ownership and communicate with your teammates, supervisors and other stakeholders.”
Even though the guideline calculator will need continuous updating because of the ever-changing tax rules and regulations, Rachna feels that the heaviest load is over.
The guideline calculator is available online on the CA DCSS public website as well as on the automated Statewide Child Support Enforcement system (CSE). It is used by not only the California court system, but by caseworkers, attorneys and case participants to estimate the potential child support order amount.
With their extensive makeover of the application, Rachna Gaur and her team showed that optimism and team communication are the keys to top performance in high-pressure situations.
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