August is Child Support Awareness Month in Solano County

The Board of Supervisors has declared August as Child Support Awareness Month in Solano County to highlight its investment in the future of our children.

The theme for this year’s Child Support Awareness Month is “Child Support-You Won’t Find a Better Investment.” 

During the month of August, local child support agency offices throughout the state are holding outreach events to educate the public on the importance of child support and the services that are offered to assist parents and guardians.

“Child support is important because it supplements and stabilizes family income, increases self-sufficiency, and encourages mothers and fathers to be involved in their children’s lives,” said Pamela Posehn, director of Solano County Department of Child Support Services. “By working with the whole family, the child support program ensures that our children can rely on their parents for the financial and medical support they need to be healthy and successful.”

In the past year, nearly $38 million in child support payments were collected and distributed in Solano County -- $30 million went directly to families and nearly $8 million was returned to federal, state and county governments as welfare recoupment.

The department will be showcasing available child support services at the following community events:

• Music in the Park on Saturday, Aug. 6 from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Suisun City Library, 601 Pintail Drive in Suisun City.
• Back to School Resource Fair 2011 on Saturday, Aug. 13 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, 1600 Union Ave. in Fairfield.

In addition, the Department of Child Support Services conducts monthly lunchtime workshop to help provide insights into the child support process.  The next event on Thursday, Aug. 31 talks about how to find out if you qualify for a reduction in back child support obligations by learning about the State Compromise of Arrears program. The free workshops are held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 435 Executive Court North in Fairfield. A separate session is provided in Spanish.

Parents with a child support case have access to a variety of online and by phone self-service options, providing them easy access to case and payment information.  Parents can access case information, make payments, and view account balances on-line and over the phone 24 hours a day, seven days a week. These enhancements to the child support program make it easier for parents and guardians to get the information they need when they need it.

Child support program services are delivered through a network of county and regional child support agencies that offer a wide range of services to parents, including providing assistance in locating a parent; establishing paternity; establishing, modifying and enforcing a court order for child support; and establishing, modifying and enforcing an order for health coverage.

For more information about child support programs and services, go to www.solanocounty.com/childsupport  or www.childsup.ca.gov.

Info: Solano County press release