FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Sept. 14, 2009
WESTCHESTER RECOGNIZED BY STATE FOR CHILD SUPPORT
ENFORCEMENT
County
receives certificates of achievement for excellence in child support in New
York State
For the seventh year, Westchester County’s
Office of Child Support Enforcement has been recognized by New York State
for outstanding performance in helping families obtain child support.
To recognize this achievement, Scott Cade, Deputy Commissioner and
Director of the NYS Division of Child Support will present the county’s Office
of Child Support Enforcement with an award at a ceremony on Tuesday, Sept. 15 at 11 a.m. at the county
Department of Social Services offices at 100 E. 1st Street
in Mount Vernon,
8th floor. Westchester County
Executive Andy Spano, Department of Social Services Commissioner Kevin Mahon
and the entire staff of the county’s Office of Child Support Enforcement will
accept the award.
Westchester was singled out for best overall performance and
most improved in child support collections. In 2008, the county collected $67.3
million in child support and increased collections by more than 4 percent. The
county was also recognized for getting the courts to order support payments and
at establishing paternity or proving parenthood – which must be done before the
courts will order child support. Westchester’s
collection, paternity, and support establishment rates all exceeded the 80
percent goal set by the state, making it the most improved office compared to
the six large counties in the state (excluding NYC). In addition to
Westchester, large counties include Erie, Monroe, Onondaga, Suffolk,
and Nassau.
“Once again our Office of Child Support
Enforcement has shown itself to be one of the most efficient in the state,’’
said County Executive Andy Spano. “It is important work because without child
support payments many of these families cannot make ends meet.’’
Westchester’s
Commissioner of Social Services Kevin Mahon said child support collection is not
only important to the county because it helps to get families off public
assistance, but it provides the children with a link to their non-custodial
parent and improves their quality of life.
Westchester’s Office of Child Support Enforcement also
received this recognition in each year 2002 through 2007.
Westchester’s
success is attributed to aggressive action against non-paying parents and to
use of innovative approaches that forge partnerships with other agencies that
make it easier for parents to comply. The
Office of Child Support uses a number of measures to get money including
suspending driver’s and professional licenses, passports, garnishing wages, and
tax refunds and lottery winnings. Since 2001, DSS has partnered with the
Westchester county District Attorney’s Office to criminally prosecute
habitually delinquent child support debtors.
And in 2006, Westchester County
became the first in the state to publish the photos of parents who have failed
to pay child support in newspapers and on its website.
Facts on child support
collections:
- From
1998 through 2008, child support collections increased more than 110
percent from $32 million to $67.3 million.
- Paternity
establishment increased 28 percent, from 62 percent in December 1998 to 90
percent in December 2008.
- Support
establishment increased 19 percent, from 69 percent in December 1998 to 88
percent in December 2008.
- Child
support collection rates for 2008 were 86 percent.