Sacramento, Yolo and Solano County Local Child Support Agencies Take Child Support to Galaxies Far, Far Away

On July 9, 2016 Sacramento, Solano and Yolo County local child support agencies (LCSAs) teamed up with the Sacramento River Cats for a Star Wars-themed night, highlighting the Department of Child Support Services and local food banks.

The Sacramento River Cats helped promote California’s Child Support Program services throughout the night starting with throwing out the first pitch of the game. It continued with a video shout out and ended with a spectacular firework display to the tune of the Imperial March.

Families were able to take pictures with their favorite Star Wars characters including Kylo Ren, Storm Troopers, Darth Maul, and a few Jedi Masters.  With a table set up at the entrance of the main gate, the three LCSAs had hundreds of families come by and see what child support is all about.

Representatives from Sacramento, Solano and Yolo County child support agencies
handed out prizes for visitors

While parents grabbed fliers, handbooks, and asked questions, kids had a chance to spin the prize wheel with prizes from bendy straws, stamps, spinner tops to sunglasses. There were no future Jedis or Storm Troopers that left unhappy.

In addition to the providing child support education in a unique and entertaining way, the River Cats and the LCSAs wanted to give back even more. With other back-to-school events going on, the LCSAs collected canned goods to be donated to local food banks.  Fans that arrived early with two canned goods received the opportunity to go on the field for VIP batting practice, which typically is not available to the public. Several bins of food were collected and distributed to food banks within the Sacramento, Solano and Yolo County areas.

“Having an opportunity to be in a different setting outside of a kid’s fair or some county-organized event was really eye opening,” said Amelia English, Solano County Senior Child Support Specialist. “Sometimes we get sucked into the stigma that child support is negative, but the reality is we are everyday life for people. The support we establish and collect helps families go to events such as a baseball game. We work hard every day to help build families during the bad and good times.”

The collaboration between the multi-county LCSAs was a huge success that fostered partnerships and inspired new ideas for how California’s Child Support Program can better reach the community it serves.

"Collaboration with bordering LCSAs in our shared communities is important," said Jill Lucena-Machado, Outreach Coordinator for Sacramento County DCSS. "In many instances our customers are shared and working together highlights the positive role that the child support program can and does have on families."

"The River Cats event was such a great idea," said Jamie Wisterman, Outreach Coordinator for Yolo County DCSS. "We worked with Solano and Sacramento Counties towards a common goal, to help our families and get child support information out to the public. I am still amazed at how little the public knows about child support and all the services we have to offer."

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By: Amelia English, Senior Child Support Specialist
Solano County Department of Child Support Services