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Receive a presentation from Solano County Department of Child Support Services on winning the 2025 Child Support Directors Association Innovation in the Child Support Program Award for the Department’s Mentoring Program
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Published Notice Required? Yes ___ No _X_
Public Hearing Required? Yes ___ No _X_
DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION:
The Solano County Department of Child Support Services (DCSS) recommends that the Board of Supervisors receive a presentation on winning the 2025 Child Support Directors Association (CSDA) Innovation in the Child Support Program Award for the Department’s Mentoring Program.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
The CSDA bestows several program awards during the Annual Child Support Training Conference & Expo. This past May, the CSDA presented Solano County DCSS the 2025 Innovation in the Child Support Program Award for the Department’s Mentoring Program.
Solano County DCSS believes that a dedication to service excellence in the delivery of child support services is a top priority. Understanding that a key factor in an improved customer experience is employee engagement and job satisfaction, Solano County DCSS focuses on the training and development of their staff and as a result, designed and launched an internal departmental mentoring program to help coach and inspire employees to pursue their personal and career-oriented goals.
The Solano County DCSS Mentoring Program is a formal program that provides enriching experiences through opportunities for personal and professional growth while sharing knowledge, leveraging skills, and cultivating talent. Highly motivated staff volunteer to participate in the six-month program as either a Mentor or Mentee and are matched based on interests and strengths. The Solano County DCSS Mentoring Program activities include: receiving a copy of Strength Finders book and assessment so mentees can identify and learn to utilize their strengths; participating in mock interviews at the onset and end of the mentoring session where they receive honest and specific feedback; participating in Senior Child Support Specialist (CSS) Q&A for those interested in promoting to Senior CSS positions; Mentors in the Hot Seat - mentees have the opportunity to ask questions relating to the career path of the mentors; attending Performance Management Plan meetings to help broaden their understanding of what drives the work that we do; inviting leaders from outside the Department to share their career paths; and receiving 360 interviews/feedback from former Supervisors and Senior CSSs.
To ensure success, Mentors also receive ongoing support that includes initial program orientation and support from Mentoring Council, information regarding mentees’ areas of interest ahead of time for preparation and research, three-month check-in with Mentoring Council, and a debrief after Mentoring session ends to seek areas of improvements to the program.
Thus far, the program has had 28 successful mentoring relationships within the department and include the following successes, both personal and professional: one mentee returned to school and obtained her Associate in Arts degree, one mentee acquired her business license to obtain a cottage permit for a home bakery, one mentee developed and presented a pilot program that was approved and implemented into the Solano County DCSS’ PMP, three mentees promoted to Supervisor, four mentees promoted to Senior CSS, one mentee promoted to Program Manager, four mentors promoted to Supervisor, three mentors promoted to Program Manager, one mentor promoted to Assistant Director, one mentor promoted to Director outside of the Department.
The Solano County DCSS Mentoring Program has resulted in an enriching experience for both Mentors and Mentees. Each session has had an increase in the number of staff participation. It has demonstrated Solano County DCSS’ commitment to its team, which translates into favorable outcomes for both employees, the organization, and the customers we serve.
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 DCSS staff.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
There is no other agency involvement.
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
APPROVE DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION