Dana Simas, CA DCSS
On Tuesday, July 11th representatives from Veterans’ Affairs and county child support, mental health, employment, legal, and housing services assembled at the San Bernardino County Department of Child Support (San Bernadino County DCSS) office to kick off the Procedural Justice for Alternatives to Contempt (PJAC) project.
PJAC is a federal grant from the Office of Child Support Enforcement for a project that targets parents who owe child support, are not paying, and where contempt of court is soon to be filed. The overarching goal is to reduce or eliminate the routine use of contempt of court charges for parents who do not pay their child support.
San Bernadino County DCSS and Riverside County DCSS were chosen as the pilot locations for the five-year project. Both will submit their findings of whether engaging parents early and providing wrap-around services ultimately leads to an increase in those making their child support payments.
Many parents often find child support agencies and processes difficult to navigate, which can have a negative impact on parents’ willingness and ability to pay court-ordered child support. Failure to pay can lead to contempt of court proceedings, making it even more difficult for parents to comply. Many of these parents have a history of low to no wage earnings, are homeless or have other long-standing disabilities.
“(Child Support) needs to give (parents) a chance to understand their rights and responsibilities,” California Department of Child Support Services Director Alisha Griffin said. “We need to be sure that orders are set right and fairly and that parents understand the consequences of not paying before we judge them.”
A great majority of past due child support is owed by those who earn less than $10,000 a year, which becomes an issue of the parent’s ability to pay rather than their willingness to pay.
“To work to avoid contempt charges, we need to bring people into the process early to ensure they understand the process and work with them from the beginning,” said George Chance, CA DCSS Regional Administrator. “We need to build a system that is neutral, trustworthy and fair.”
Partners in the PJAC project include Department of Social Services which provides families with food subsidies, Department of Veterans’ Affairs to help address the unique needs of veterans, emergency shelters and the San Bernardino County Housing Authority to partner in finding housing for parents, and employment partners such as the Goodwill Career Center.
One major component of the PJAC project is the use of a trauma-informed approach to child support services. This approach will focus on properly screening participants who may be victims or perpetrators of domestic violence, as well as training child support staff in identifiers and emergency service referrals in such cases.
The PJAC project is another step in child support’s move away from a punitive process to one that takes into account real-world circumstances many parents face. The goal is to create a fair Child Support process that works with parents to help them support their children.
Friday, September 1, 2017
Electronic Income Withholding (e-IWO): Increasing Collection Rates, Helping Children Receive Consistent Payments
Janelle Mora, CA DCSS
Over the past two years, the California Department of Child Support Services (CA DCSS) has improved the income withholding system by creating a process that reduces work for employers and gets money to families quicker. Prior to 2013, employers processed all income withholding orders (IWOs) on paper, resulting in mailing costs to employers and longer collection processing times reliant on postal deliveries. Since implementing the electronic income withholding order (e-IWO) process, support collections and processing times have continuously improved.
The e-IWO process has greatly benefited the Child Support program. The process is quicker and more efficient and notifies child support agencies of employment terminations and any lump sum or bonus payments which can benefit children. The electronic process has also helped reduce input errors that can occur during manual processing. Overall, income withholding has improved by more than $73 million since 2013.
Wage withholding is the most effective form of payment collection across the country, in California, it makes up more than 65 percent of child support collections. Through marketing efforts, participating in employer workshops statewide, and partnering with local child support agencies (LCSAs) in workshops and webinars, the Employer Services Team built stronger bonds with agencies who assist families and children obtain the support they need.
Additionally, the Employer Services Team made supplemental improvements to the employer website by embedding instructions on all required forms and providing helpful links. By connecting employers to the child support program in more ways than ever before, improving data quality, and focusing attention on the option of e-IWO, the Employer Services Team successfully reduced the time it takes for families to receive a child support payment via IWO by an average of six days.
It is estimated CA DCSS will collect more than $1.6 billion from withholding orders in 2016-2017. Determined to reduce collection processing times further, the Employer Services Team is actively working to improve systems and practices to improve relationships with employers, LCSAs, families, and children.
Over the past two years, the California Department of Child Support Services (CA DCSS) has improved the income withholding system by creating a process that reduces work for employers and gets money to families quicker. Prior to 2013, employers processed all income withholding orders (IWOs) on paper, resulting in mailing costs to employers and longer collection processing times reliant on postal deliveries. Since implementing the electronic income withholding order (e-IWO) process, support collections and processing times have continuously improved.
The e-IWO process has greatly benefited the Child Support program. The process is quicker and more efficient and notifies child support agencies of employment terminations and any lump sum or bonus payments which can benefit children. The electronic process has also helped reduce input errors that can occur during manual processing. Overall, income withholding has improved by more than $73 million since 2013.
Wage withholding is the most effective form of payment collection across the country, in California, it makes up more than 65 percent of child support collections. Through marketing efforts, participating in employer workshops statewide, and partnering with local child support agencies (LCSAs) in workshops and webinars, the Employer Services Team built stronger bonds with agencies who assist families and children obtain the support they need.
It is estimated CA DCSS will collect more than $1.6 billion from withholding orders in 2016-2017. Determined to reduce collection processing times further, the Employer Services Team is actively working to improve systems and practices to improve relationships with employers, LCSAs, families, and children.
The Hague Convention - What it Means for Child Support
Nicole Darracq, CA DCSS
California Department of Child Support Services (CA DCSS) has always been a leader in international partnerships to enforce child support orders. For years the state has accepted requests from families for child support assistance when the person owing support was a California resident. Now, collecting support from parents who leave the country to avoid paying for their children in California just got a whole lot simpler, thanks to a formal international agreement to streamline child support arrangements from around the world.
The Hague Convention on the International Recovery of Child Support and Other Forms of Family Maintenance concluded negotiations in 2007, with ratification by the United States Senate in 2010. Congress enacted implementing legislation in 2014, signed into law by President Obama as the Preventing Sex Trafficking and Strengthening Families Act. All 50 states had to pass legislation adopting the Uniform Interstate Family Support Act of 2008, after which time President Obama signed the instrument of ratification for the treaty on August 30, 2016. The Hague Convention entered into full force in the Unites States on January 1, 2017, with 33 countries agreeing to work together to establish and enforce child support orders across international boundaries – more countries are proceeding with the ratification process and will be joining the effort.
Since the Hague Convention went into force, California has received 18 new submissions to enforce or establish cases for children overseas, and has initiated 20 new cases that, when orders are established, could result in hundreds of thousands of dollars being collected every year for California families. Some of the new international partnerships include Spain, Ukraine and Romania.
CA DCSS Director Alisha Griffin played a key role in making this landmark agreement a reality – as a member of the delegation from the National Child Support Enforcement Association during the five years of negotiations, she testified before Congress in support of ratification, convincing lawmakers of the pressing need to extend the arm of enforcement across international borders. Now that the Hague Convention is in-force for the United States and more countries continue to ratify, CA DCSS has started working with these new international partners to ensure children and families with ties to California are able to obtain child support.
“It is a wonderful feeling to know that the network for international support of families continues to expand,” said Kristen Donadee, Assistant Chief Counsel for CA DCSS who specializes in international child support. “This support will go a long way toward helping families be self-sufficient, provide educational opportunities for the children, and provide peace of mind for families that may currently struggle and are unable to make ends meet.”
For a more in-depth look at the growing relationship between CA DCSS and the State of Baja California, Mexico’s child support department, read the story here: http://bit.ly/2uqya6C.
California Department of Child Support Services (CA DCSS) has always been a leader in international partnerships to enforce child support orders. For years the state has accepted requests from families for child support assistance when the person owing support was a California resident. Now, collecting support from parents who leave the country to avoid paying for their children in California just got a whole lot simpler, thanks to a formal international agreement to streamline child support arrangements from around the world.
The Hague Convention on the International Recovery of Child Support and Other Forms of Family Maintenance concluded negotiations in 2007, with ratification by the United States Senate in 2010. Congress enacted implementing legislation in 2014, signed into law by President Obama as the Preventing Sex Trafficking and Strengthening Families Act. All 50 states had to pass legislation adopting the Uniform Interstate Family Support Act of 2008, after which time President Obama signed the instrument of ratification for the treaty on August 30, 2016. The Hague Convention entered into full force in the Unites States on January 1, 2017, with 33 countries agreeing to work together to establish and enforce child support orders across international boundaries – more countries are proceeding with the ratification process and will be joining the effort.
Since the Hague Convention went into force, California has received 18 new submissions to enforce or establish cases for children overseas, and has initiated 20 new cases that, when orders are established, could result in hundreds of thousands of dollars being collected every year for California families. Some of the new international partnerships include Spain, Ukraine and Romania.
CA DCSS Director Alisha Griffin played a key role in making this landmark agreement a reality – as a member of the delegation from the National Child Support Enforcement Association during the five years of negotiations, she testified before Congress in support of ratification, convincing lawmakers of the pressing need to extend the arm of enforcement across international borders. Now that the Hague Convention is in-force for the United States and more countries continue to ratify, CA DCSS has started working with these new international partners to ensure children and families with ties to California are able to obtain child support.
“It is a wonderful feeling to know that the network for international support of families continues to expand,” said Kristen Donadee, Assistant Chief Counsel for CA DCSS who specializes in international child support. “This support will go a long way toward helping families be self-sufficient, provide educational opportunities for the children, and provide peace of mind for families that may currently struggle and are unable to make ends meet.”
For a more in-depth look at the growing relationship between CA DCSS and the State of Baja California, Mexico’s child support department, read the story here: http://bit.ly/2uqya6C.
Never Done This? Need it Yesterday? No Problem for Rachna Gaur
Jorlinis Centeno, CA DCSS
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).
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.
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.
Tulare County Department of Child Support Services Goes to the Ball Game
James Bonafe, Tulare County DCSS
On Thursday, June 22nd, the Tulare County Department of Child Support Services (Tulare DCSS) held its 3rd Annual “Let’s Go Out to the Ball Game” event at the home of the Visalia Rawhide.
“It was hot, hot, hot out at the stadium,” said James Bonafe, Public Information Officer at Tulare DCSS. “Together we cheered on the Rawhide to beat the San Jose Giants 7-5!”
There were 47 Tulare DCSS employees and their families who attended the annual event for a fun, exciting night at the ballpark. A great way to get to know coworkers and their families in a fun, casual atmosphere.
Additionally, the Tulare DCSS Outreach Team held a Child Support Awareness Month event at the Visalia Rawhide “Make a Difference Monday” game on August 14th. The Outreach Team spoke with families attending the game about available child support services for all parents
On Thursday, June 22nd, the Tulare County Department of Child Support Services (Tulare DCSS) held its 3rd Annual “Let’s Go Out to the Ball Game” event at the home of the Visalia Rawhide.
There were 47 Tulare DCSS employees and their families who attended the annual event for a fun, exciting night at the ballpark. A great way to get to know coworkers and their families in a fun, casual atmosphere.
Additionally, the Tulare DCSS Outreach Team held a Child Support Awareness Month event at the Visalia Rawhide “Make a Difference Monday” game on August 14th. The Outreach Team spoke with families attending the game about available child support services for all parents
Department of Child Support Services Manager Charley Jones
Janelle Mora, CA DCSS
Charley Jones is constantly on the move, whether keeping the Child Support Enforcement (CSE) system running or outdoors preparing for marathons. Charley began working for the State of California back in 1991 and started working for Department of Child Support Services (DCSS) in 2003 as a Systems Software Specialist II.
Advancing his work in the Technology Services Division, Charley has since promoted to a Data Processing Manager III overseeing infrastructure hardware and software environments for the CSE system. On top of managing these environments, he is also assisting the CSE system migration to a Cloud-based infrastructure, which will be the most cost-effective and secure infrastructure DCSS has ever had. Additionally, Charley is overseeing the implementation of new software development with the Agile-based approach which advocates adaptive planning, continuous improvement, and encourages flexible, rapid response to change.
Charley grew up playing sports. As an athlete, running for conditioning purposes has been a part of Charley’s life for quite some time, however, he truly committed to running in 2000 when he ran his first long-distance race, the California International Marathon. As if running marathons year after year since then wasn’t impressive enough, in 2005 Charley began running ultramarathons, races that exceed 26.2 miles.
On the last weekend of June of this year, Charley completed the Western States 100-Mile Endurance Run in Squaw Valley for the tenth time. The race began at 5:00 a.m. on Saturday and ended the next day, with qualifiers finishing no later than 11:00 a.m. that Sunday morning. Charley stated that competing in the world’s oldest 100-mile trail race is always his highlight event of the year, competing with 368 other runners, the maximum amount allowed by law. After six months of preparing and training, Charley finished in the top 50 percent, completing the run in 28 hours and 28 minutes. Before crossing the finish line, the route climbed more than 18,000 feet and descended nearly 23,000 feet in elevation.
Counting his most recent race, Charley has run more than 120 ultramarathons and approximately 25 regular marathons.
“Running the Western States Endurance Run has been a paramount challenge and it’s the challenge that has made preparing and running the event so enjoyable,” Charley says. “The challenge combined with the amazing people in the running community has made this such a rewarding experience over the years.”
Advancing his work in the Technology Services Division, Charley has since promoted to a Data Processing Manager III overseeing infrastructure hardware and software environments for the CSE system. On top of managing these environments, he is also assisting the CSE system migration to a Cloud-based infrastructure, which will be the most cost-effective and secure infrastructure DCSS has ever had. Additionally, Charley is overseeing the implementation of new software development with the Agile-based approach which advocates adaptive planning, continuous improvement, and encourages flexible, rapid response to change.
Charley grew up playing sports. As an athlete, running for conditioning purposes has been a part of Charley’s life for quite some time, however, he truly committed to running in 2000 when he ran his first long-distance race, the California International Marathon. As if running marathons year after year since then wasn’t impressive enough, in 2005 Charley began running ultramarathons, races that exceed 26.2 miles.
Counting his most recent race, Charley has run more than 120 ultramarathons and approximately 25 regular marathons.
“Running the Western States Endurance Run has been a paramount challenge and it’s the challenge that has made preparing and running the event so enjoyable,” Charley says. “The challenge combined with the amazing people in the running community has made this such a rewarding experience over the years.”
CA DCSS Dad Cheers on Daughter at Deaf Olympics in Turkey
Janelle Mora, CA DCSS
Liz Cocker is a great example of perseverance. At just 16 months old, doctors told Liz’s father, California Department of Child Support Services employee Tim Cocker, and mother, Annette Cocker, that Liz was “profoundly deaf” and her ability to talk or read wouldn’t surpass the third-grade level. The doctor went on to say that childhood experiences such as participating in sports would be nearly impossible.
Liz’s parents took the doctor’s words lightly, raising her to challenge expectations. After hearing-aids proved ineffective, she received a cochlear implant surgery at the age of five.
Two years after the successful surgery, she took up competitive swimming. At the age of 12, after five years of winning every race she participated in, she fully immersed herself in the sport, seeking swim coaches and year-round teams.
Liz dove into pools of silence, as implants during that time were not waterproof. For every practice and competition, Liz had to part with the device that placed her on an equal playing field with her competitors. At the beginning of each race, she tilted her head to see the starter signal, which resulted in losing one or two valuable seconds compared to swimmers who could listen for the starting gun.
At 16 years old, Liz got waterproof implants. Although glad to put signal delays behind her, she was most thankful for the motivational boost that came with being able to hear family and friends cheering her on during races.
Just after getting her new implants, she enrolled at Walnutwood High School in 2010. By this time, she was proficient in reading lips and proved to be an important asset to her school swim team, receiving the Varsity Athletic Award & MVP Award, qualifying for sectionals, and winning the CIF San Joaquin Championships all four years.
After three years of swimming for American River College--breaking 100- and 200-fly records several times and selected for the All-American Community College Swimming Team eight times, all while earning High Honors every semester-- Liz earned a spot on the California State University, East Bay swim team.
At Cal State East Bay, Liz broke the U.S. Deaf Swimming League record in the 50-yard freestyle race in a meet last February. Although freestyle is a specific stroke, in a “freestyle race,” swimmers are allowed to swim any stroke style. Most swimmers choose the freestyle stroke, as it is usually a swimmer’s fastest. Liz chose the ferociously difficult butterfly, and the 5-foot-9-inch athlete beat the freestyle record with a completion time of 26.68 seconds, beating the previous record of 26.99 seconds.
“She has those records written out, when it came to the 50-fly, it was like, ‘I’m going to do it.’ Never doubted it,” says Cal State East Bay’s swim coach, Shane Pelton. “The word to describe Liz is driven. When she wants it, she gets it and if it’s in sight, she’s going to achieve it.”
A few weeks after breaking the U.S. Deaf Swimming League record in the 50-yard fly, she received an email from the International Committee of Sports for the Deaf saying she qualified to compete in the 2017 Deaf Olympics Games held in Samsun, Turkey which began on July 18th with 109 countries participating.
At the Deaf Olympics, Liz beat her personal best times in every race and came home clinching the American Deaf Swimming Records for the 50-yard butterfly, 4 x 200 meter Mixed Medley Relay, Women’s Medley Relay, and Women’s Freestyle Relay. With 15 years of competitive swimming under her belt, and breaking records across the globe, Liz looks forward to training for the World Championships in South Africa in 2019, but will first finish her senior year of collegiate swimming at Cal State, East Bay.
Liz Cocker is a great example of perseverance. At just 16 months old, doctors told Liz’s father, California Department of Child Support Services employee Tim Cocker, and mother, Annette Cocker, that Liz was “profoundly deaf” and her ability to talk or read wouldn’t surpass the third-grade level. The doctor went on to say that childhood experiences such as participating in sports would be nearly impossible.
Liz’s parents took the doctor’s words lightly, raising her to challenge expectations. After hearing-aids proved ineffective, she received a cochlear implant surgery at the age of five.
Two years after the successful surgery, she took up competitive swimming. At the age of 12, after five years of winning every race she participated in, she fully immersed herself in the sport, seeking swim coaches and year-round teams.Liz dove into pools of silence, as implants during that time were not waterproof. For every practice and competition, Liz had to part with the device that placed her on an equal playing field with her competitors. At the beginning of each race, she tilted her head to see the starter signal, which resulted in losing one or two valuable seconds compared to swimmers who could listen for the starting gun.
At 16 years old, Liz got waterproof implants. Although glad to put signal delays behind her, she was most thankful for the motivational boost that came with being able to hear family and friends cheering her on during races.
Just after getting her new implants, she enrolled at Walnutwood High School in 2010. By this time, she was proficient in reading lips and proved to be an important asset to her school swim team, receiving the Varsity Athletic Award & MVP Award, qualifying for sectionals, and winning the CIF San Joaquin Championships all four years.
After three years of swimming for American River College--breaking 100- and 200-fly records several times and selected for the All-American Community College Swimming Team eight times, all while earning High Honors every semester-- Liz earned a spot on the California State University, East Bay swim team.
At Cal State East Bay, Liz broke the U.S. Deaf Swimming League record in the 50-yard freestyle race in a meet last February. Although freestyle is a specific stroke, in a “freestyle race,” swimmers are allowed to swim any stroke style. Most swimmers choose the freestyle stroke, as it is usually a swimmer’s fastest. Liz chose the ferociously difficult butterfly, and the 5-foot-9-inch athlete beat the freestyle record with a completion time of 26.68 seconds, beating the previous record of 26.99 seconds.
A few weeks after breaking the U.S. Deaf Swimming League record in the 50-yard fly, she received an email from the International Committee of Sports for the Deaf saying she qualified to compete in the 2017 Deaf Olympics Games held in Samsun, Turkey which began on July 18th with 109 countries participating.
At the Deaf Olympics, Liz beat her personal best times in every race and came home clinching the American Deaf Swimming Records for the 50-yard butterfly, 4 x 200 meter Mixed Medley Relay, Women’s Medley Relay, and Women’s Freestyle Relay. With 15 years of competitive swimming under her belt, and breaking records across the globe, Liz looks forward to training for the World Championships in South Africa in 2019, but will first finish her senior year of collegiate swimming at Cal State, East Bay.
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