By DANIEL SUDDEATH
Daniel.Suddeath@newsandtribune.com
July 03, 2008 11:48 am
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For the first time in several years, the Child Support Division of the Clark County Prosecutor’s office is fully staffed, and as a result, collections are up this year.
From January through May, collections in Clark County were up 16.9 percent compared to the same time period last year. Statewide, collections were up 10.5 percent.
Andrew Steele — deputy prosecuting attorney for the child support division in Clark County — has hired and trained a completely new staff in the last year. Prior to this year, there were times that the office had only two or three case workers. Now, there are five.
From 2006 to 2007, collections in Clark County increased from $6,021,425 to $6,030,972 — a 0.16 percent increase.
While Steele said he enjoys seeing a child walk in with a new pair of shoes because his father started paying support, he also thinks about the economic benefit.
“Most of that money goes right back into Clark County’s local economy,” he said. “Where else do you generate that kind of money at such little cost?”
However, even with a full staff, resources are stretched.
With five case workers and 6,300 to 7,000 cases, each will handle about 1,500 cases. This is well above the federal guidelines.
Steele said the Clark County Council would have to decide to pay to hire more employees, but even if that board did, there may not be enough space for new workers in the government building.
One caseworker, Megan, said most of her calls are parents complaining they are not receiving money. But after nine months, she says she still likes the job.
“I like helping people,” she said. “There are a lot of cases, but there are some cases where the parent is having trouble and you get to know them.”
She asked that her last name not be published because many caseworkers have people confront them about a case outside of the office.
When an article about child support was published in The Evening News last month, several custodial parents from Floyd and Clark counties wrote the newspaper to voice their frustration with the child-care system. Many parents claimed they had been forgotten, neglected and treated rudely by caseworkers.
Steele said child support is a complaint-driven business, and he has gotten used to hearing them. He believes custodial parents become angry because one parent refuses to pay, and that anger is wrongly directed at the caseworkers.
“Morally, they have a right to be outraged. A lot of times, I’m outraged too,” he said. “This is the mechanism that has been provided for us, and we do our best to work within it.”
Every Friday and Tuesday, noncustodial parents are brought before a judge one after another. While Steele estimates 85 percent of parents are compliant, the 15 percent who are not come prepared with excuses.
Many of them claim that no one is hiring or that they cannot find employment because of a criminal record. The judge will often order the parent to return to court with proof of employment or copies of multiple job applications.
Some are legitimate excuses such as a disability, Steele said. He calls those “deadbroke” parents.
“If we can establish that he’s not disabled and is avoiding payments, I’ll typically ask for a 90-day sentence,” he said.
Other parents try to flee the state. While Steele said the office has tracked down parents all across the country, it can be very difficult unless they know exactly where the person is hiding. Often, they have to rely on the deadbeat parent being picked up on a traffic stop or other offense.
Steele encourages parents to provide his office with any important information about the noncustodial parent. He also encourages frustrated parents to set up a meeting with a case worker if they have not been in for a while.
For more information, visit www.clarkprosecutor.org or call 812-285-6261.
By the numbers
Clark County child support statistics for 2007
• Active cases in which a parent was scheduled to appear in court: 958
• Noncustodial parents who failed to appear in court: 313
• Noncustodial parents jailed: 84
• Days served by noncustodial parents: 1,689
• Open warrants: 138
• Warrants that need to be issued: 110
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