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Receive a presentation from Solano County Department of Child Support Services on winning the 2024 Child Support Director’s Association “Innovation in the Child Support Program” Award for the department’s Flexible Case Management Program
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Published Notice Required? Yes ___ No _X_
Public Hearing Required? Yes ___ No _X_
DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION:
The Department of Child Support Services (DCSS) recommends that the Board of Supervisors receive a presentation to acknowledge the receipt of the 2024 Child Support Director’s Association (CSDA) “Innovation in the Child Support Program” for the department’s Flexible Case Management Program.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
The CSDA bestows several program awards during the Annual Child Support Training Conference & Expo. This past April, the CSDA presented Solano County DCSS the 2024 “Innovation in the Child Support Program” Award for the department’s Flexible Case Management Program.
The Child Support Program is changing, with traditional enforcement views conflict with the idea of autonomy in case management. Families’ needs have also changed and to progress as a program, caseworkers needed more options to help meet those needs. In June 2022, Solano County DCSS began a pilot program to figure out how to meet the new needs of the families served by the department. DCSS looked at why some participants closed their cases as soon as the order for support was established for their case, as opposed to allowing DCSS to collect on their behalf. When talking to those families, it was discovered that there were concerns with wage garnishment, credit reporting, and other enforcement actions. Based on this feedback, DCSS began with a small set of cases and allowed caseworkers the opportunity to suppress enforcement actions as an option for their participants, allowing them to pay on their own, and remain in compliance with the order for support. The early success of this practice led the department to expand this option to the entire caseload.
With the success of the Flexible Case Management pilot program within Solano County DCSS, other counties are reaching out to learn about the department’s approach and process. Virtual training has been provided by Solano County DCSS supervisors to answer any questions and share tips and tricks with these counties. Most recently, California Department of Child Support Services (CA DCSS) has formally asked Solano County DCSS to share the Flexible Case Management process and procedures with other interested counties.
Solano County DCSS strives to better the experience of all child support participants with Flexible Case Management at the forefront. The department’s creativity is being acknowledge statewide and receiving this award is a testament to the great work of our Solano County DCSS staff.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact associated with this designation.
ALTERNATIVES:
The Board could choose not to receive this presentation; however, this is not recommended as this presentation is honoring the great work of the Solano County DCSS staff.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
There is no other agency involvement.
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
APPROVE DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION