Los Angeles County Child Support Department Answers Live Questions from Southern California TV Viewers

The Los Angeles County Child Support Services Department (LA CSSD) recently extended an extra helping hand to the families of Southern California. LA CSSD took part in a unique public affairs program on KMEX-TV, Channel  34, the dominant Spanish-language television station in Southern California to educate thousands of viewers on child support services.

LA CSSD Staff Attorney Harold Diaz was interviewed
live and encouraged viewers to call in for child support help

LA CSSD’s June 28th appearance on the program “A Primera Hora” connected Southern California viewers and LA CSSD participants with child support professionals in real-time. KMEX-TV reporters interviewed LA CSSD staff on live television about services and invited viewers to call into the station and speak with LA CSSD staff working a phone bank in the station newsroom.

The effort, organized by Al Reyes, Chief of LA CSSD Outreach Services Division, was a huge success with hundreds of callers calling into the station to request assistance. LA CSSD staff assisted approximately 190 callers within two hours.

“We are glad to be a part of KMEX's innovative programming,” Reyes said. “This type of event shows the commitment of our staff as they get up at 2 a.m. to be at the station ready to assist the public.”

LA CSSD staff respond to hundreds of callers

The event took place from 5-7 a.m. and included 15 LA CSSD staff from child support officers, supervisors and staff attorneys. Together they assisted callers with how to open a child support case, what to do if a participant has an issue, how to establish paternity and how to get help with past-due child support payments.

One caller received assistance with how to find the father of a child who had moved to Mexico. Another caller received helped after moving from Santa Clara to Los Angeles and whether her child support case had transferred jurisdictions with her.

Dr. Steven Golightly, Director of the LA CSSD, highlighted the importance of this outreach:

“We pride ourselves on providing routinely exceptional customer service – every day of the year. However, with a caseload as large as ours is, and with a huge geographical service delivery area, we are constantly seeking new partners to collaborate with. Luis Patino, Senior Vice President of Univision Communications, Inc., is a perfect example of that. Understanding the critical need for language-specific outreach to our Spanish speaking customers, Luis made the services of KMEX available to us. My colleagues – our staff – then went the extra mile to staff the phones and be available for interviews about our services. I couldn’t be more proud. “

Overall, LA CSSD handles almost 300,000 child support cases, providing individualized casework and assistance to thousands of families.



LA CSSD staff go above and beyond to provide quality
child support services to California families

Reyes states that this is one of many outreach campaigns LA CSSD participants in to educate the public about its services and help families. He and his colleagues are currently organizing two special child support workshops in the community in August for Child Support Awareness Month.

On August 4th, LA CSSD representatives will be South Coast Botanic Garden in Rancho Palos Verdes and on August 31st will be at the Zev Yaroslavsky Family Support Center in Van Nuys.

Discussion topics at these events will include: Overview of child support case management, how to open a child support case, how to establish paternity, how to modify child support orders and how to release a license suspended for non-payment.

You may register for the August 4th event here: http://1.usa.gov/295S12Z or the August 31st event here: http://1.usa.gov/295mkDr

A clip of the KMEX-TV program can be viewed here: http://bit.ly/29dLiDO.

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Dana Simas, California Department of Child Support Services
(916) 464-0163
dana.simas@dcss.ca.gov

Multi-Cultural Day 2016 Showcases Traditions from Around the World That Live Within Us

Employees at the California Department of Child Support Services (DCSS) traveled the world as they made their way around the room last month during the department’s Multi-Cultural Day.

During their lunch hour on June 15, DCSS employees visited China, Cuba, El Salvador, India, Mexico, Spain, Vietnam, and the countries of Africa.

They tasted the sweetness of coconut jelly, jackfruit and lychee in a Vietnamese Cocktail.

They marveled at the custom Punjabi dress - sewn with real pearls and stones and clapped in unison to the tune of “We Are One” written by a DCSS employee, who is a native to the Republic of Ghana in West Africa, and performed by the United Voices Choir.

They also chanted with a dancer as she yelled “hey, hey, hey” during a banda-style dance originated in Sinaloa, Mexico in the 1880s. The daughter of a DCSS employee, the dancer is part of the nonprofit dance group Folklorico Aztlan de Sacramento.

In all, there were more than eight cultures represented by 41 participants who hosted intricate displays complete with instruments, ceremonial clothing, photographs, books, maps, sculptures, and more. Some were first generation immigrants, some fifth generation and beyond. All were eager to share the stories and the traditions of their roots. The more than 150 in attendance appeared to be just as eager to take it all in.

“Not only are we rich in talents and skills, but we are also rich in cultural diversity,” said DCSS Chief Deputy Director Mark Beckley, from the center of the room. “This isn’t just a workplace; I also consider this to be our home.”

On the menu was a “Hoppin’ John” recipe made with okra and black-eye peas served by an employee who said her cultural influences stem from her grandfather from Arkansas. Black-eye peas were domesticated in West Africa 5,000 years ago.

Also on the menu was a dish of purple and white rice with cranberries called “Awakening of the Mind Fried Rice.” It was served by an employee who said her parents were born in Guangzhou (Canton) in southern part of China and immigrated through Angel Island in 1948 with only $5 to their name. Their six children and seven of nine grandchildren all have college degrees; the two youngest grandchildren are still in college.

Nearby, a DCSS employee born in China, attended to a line of event goers by painting their names in Chinese characters to have as a souvenir.

Attendees also enjoyed a classical Indian dance to close out the event. The six dancers of Rhythms of India shook the floor with each jump, skip and stomp as they performed classical dance styles in unison. The Bhangra, Telugu Folk and Bollywood dances were choreographed by a DCSS employee.

A video capturing all of the treats and entertainment is available here: http://bit.ly/292ZtGz

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Sheryl Watson, Information Officer II

California Department of Child Support Services

Sheryl.watson@dcss.ca.gov