General Entry Information
Contact:Marci Jensen-Eldred, Chief Attorney
San Bernardino Department of Child Support Services
10417 Mountain View Ave.
Loma Linda, CA 92354
(909)478-6976
Program Title:Child Support License Release Project
Program Category:Human Services
- Abstract of the Program
The mission of the San Bernardino County Department of Child Support Services (SBDCSS) is to partner with parents and the community to deliver reliable child support services. The SBDCSS establishes and enforces child and medical support orders, establishes paternity, and collects and distributes support to the families we serve. SBDCSS utilized the License Release Project to assist parents toward self-sufficiency and begin consistent child support payments for their children.
The Department of Child Support Services (SBDCSS) in San Bernardino County is the second largest locally administered child support program in California, managing a caseload of approximately 112,000 cases.
Within this caseload isa subset ofparents not paying child supportthathave fallen behind. This results in their driver’s or other professional licenses being suspended. In response to this issue,the department developed a License Release Project utilizing an outreach approach to engage the parents.
The goal of the project was to invite these parents to meet face-to-face with an SBDCSS attorney to review and discuss their case for possible license release and determine what other barriers were preventing them from paying their child support. With that goal in mind, SBDCSS mailed letters invitingthese parentsto come meet with a DCSS attorney. At the meeting, the goal was to explore the reasons for non-payment and determine alternatives to assist in removal of any barriers.
Over the two days, 135 parents met face-to-face with an attorney, had their licenses released and paid $7946 in child support payments. Parents also received referral services for employment and legal assistance. Several parents have made additional payments since their meeting moving toward consistency.
- The Problem/Need for the Program
In managing the caseload, some parentsfall behind in paying their child support and thus become disengaged in the process. Statistically, those who are not engaged in the process experience negative consequences such as having their driver’s license or other professional licenses suspended for failure to pay their court ordered child support which further compounds their ability to pay. The department currently suspends driver licenses and other professional licenses when the parent becomes ninety (90) days past due in their child support payments. In an attempt to reach out to this population, SBDCSS decided to try an alternative approach to the traditional court process and try to engage the parents.
- Description of the Program
Historically, the San Bernardino Department of Child Support Services has identified a subset of cases to develop an initiative each year with the intent to increase collections for San Bernardino’s children. This subset consisted of cases that had monthly current support due, arrears balances owed, and no payments made since 2008. Previous attempts to contact and engage these parents had little to no success.
In an effort to make a greater impact, it was found that many of the parentshad their driver licenses suspended. SBDCSSinvitedthem to meet directly with the department rather than utilize court actions, with the intention to assist the parents toregain their license and provide them assistance in removing possible obstacles preventing payment.
The SBDCSS designed and implemented a License Release Project wherein acustomer friendly letter was mailed to parentsinviting them to meet with an attorney in the office located at the Child Support Courthouse. The face-to-face contact would allow the attorney an opportunity to engage in one-on-one discussionswith the parent to attempt to understand what may be preventing them from paying their child support and educate them about the optionsavailable with the ultimate goal of bringing getting consistent and reliable child support payments for their children.
Attorneys met with the parents who appeared during the two day event. Each parent had the opportunity to speak with an SBDCSS Attorney about their case, and in most cases, had their license released in exchange for a payment toward their monthly child support or arrears balance. Many made payments or promises to pay. Parents who reported being unemployed were provided a referral to America’s Job Center of California(AJCC) which provides one-stop access to the employment-related services. AJCC helps employers find qualified workers and job seekers find job. Parents who needed legal assistance were referred to the Family Law Facilitator’s office where they could receive assistance with legal forms.
- Use of Technology
SBDCSS utilizes the statewide child support automation system that establishes a single state location for processing all child support collections and disbursements. Within the state system, SBDCSS maintains an electronic Child Support Enforcement (CSE) case management system, which contains parent and case information, financial information, operations processing and system and case management reports. SBDCSS staff extracted data from the CSE system and generated a list specifically identifying those cases where there was no payment of current support or arrears since 2008, the license was suspended, and there was a verified address available. Using mail merge, letters were preparedand addressed to the identified parents.Child Support kiosks were also available to allow easy access to make a payment, obtain payment history and case balance information.
- Cost of the Program
The cost to print the letters was 33 cents per letter which includes the paper and toner used to print the letters and postage costs were $661.29. SBDCSS incurred one hour of employee time processing the mail merge and stuffing the letters.
- Results/Success of the Program
SBDCSS mailed letters to 1,407 parents inviting them to come into the office. On the day of the meetings, 135 parents met face-to-face with an attorney. Of these, 43 parents made payments resulting in a collection over the two days of $7946.
Since the completion of the project, 113parents have since made payments on their cases. Over 15 parents have made additional payments since meeting with the Department’s attorney.
Feedback from parents during the project was positive. They appeared from San Bernardino County, Los Angeles County, Riverside County and Orange County. Some traveled from over 100 miles to attend the meeting. Parents benefited from the face-to-face meeting and received information regarding modification of support and release of driver’s licenses. Parents also received the benefit of obtaining assistance and referrals for job search opportunities and referrals for legal assistance. Additionally, SBDCSS received updated information including addresses, phone numbers and in some instances, emails fromparents. Since the initial project, some parents have continued to make monthly child support and/or arrears payments.
- Worthiness of an Award
The License Release Project is worthy of a National Association of Counties Achievement Award as it proved to be a meaningful outreach effort to engage those parents who had stopped making payments. SBDCSS was able to provide these parents an opportunity to receive assistance in having their licenses reinstated. This project also provided an opportunity for these parents to discuss their case with a SBDCSS attorney in a non-traditional, court mandated meeting and developstrategies by providing education, employment opportunities and referrals for legal assistanceand most importantly, encourage payments of support for their children.