Judiciary Key to Success in the Atlanta Judicial Circuit

Transcription

1 GEORGIA DIVISION OF CHILD SUPPORT SERVICES DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES PEACH STATE DISPATCH VOLUME 14, ISSUE 2 - MARCH 2014 Judiciary Key to Success in the Atlanta Judicial Circuit Problem Solving Court Fulton County Superior Court Judge Cynthia Wright recently announced that she will not seek re-election this year. Judge Wright has served on the Fulton County Superior Court since 1996 and was the first Fulton County Superior Court judge to work with the Child Support Problem Solving Court. Judge Wright has been instrumental in the success of our Problem Solving Court, said East Point DCSS Manager Yakieya Griffin. I appreciated going to her court and watching her interact with the participants, scolding when necessary and encouraging when appropriate. I believe Judge Wright helped transform lives during her term as the judge over Problem Solving Court. Her impact has been far reaching. Chief Judge Gail S. Tusan will pick up where Judge Wright left off to continue the success of the Atlanta Judicial Circuit PSC. The Problem Solving Court is an innovative model program that provides an alternative to incarceration for Fulton County parents who are in significant arrears on their court ordered child support obligations, said Judge Tusan. Judge Wright made a critical judicial connection with several defendants who were referred to PSC for intervention, said Judge Tusan. Her passion for this program has been demonstrated through the exemplary service she has provided over the past two years to ensure the men and women in the program fulfill and maintain their commitments to their children, the Court and our community. As the new Chief Judge of Fulton County Superior Court, she continued, I have assumed responsibility for PSC. Our court is committed to the success of all of our accountability courts and PSC is no exception. I plan to sustain and accelerate the mission of this program in partnership with DCSS and the Department of Human Services. Child Support Cases Judge Joann Bowens handles all of the child support cases in Fulton County Superior Court. Fulton County is the largest county in Georgia. Judge Bowens plays a big part in contributing to the East Point office meeting its performance goals, said DCSS Manager Yakieya Griffin. Fulton County carries the most weight in the state, so our performance is critical. Our numbers could not consistently increase without assistance from Judge Bowens. Judge David C. Langston with the State Office of Administrative Hearings also hears child support cases for Fulton County. Judge Langston sets no limits on the number of cases that can be on the calendar. During the 2012 calendar year, nearly 7,000 administrative child support cases were processed by the Atlanta J.C. Child Support office. Judge Langston enabled our office to substantially reduce the large backlog of establishment cases in our office, said DCSS Manager Yakieya Griffin. This has had a tremendous impact on the office s federal performance indicators. As the largest office in the state, our performance has a significant impact on the performance for the entire state.

2 PEACH STATE DISPATCH GEORGIA DIVISION OF CHILD SUPPORT SERVICES Page 2 DCSS FFY2013 Hospital Challenge Results By Michael Coombs, Policy Specialist The 2013 Paternity Challenge was designed by the DCSS Policy and Paternity Unit to challenge birth facilities statewide to do their very best for the children of Georgia. By securing voluntary paternity acknowledgments on children born to unmarried parents at the hospital, these birth facilities directly increased the DCSS Statewide PEP during FFY2013. All hospitals who committed to the challenge and achieved a 5 percent increase for the year received a certificate of achievement from DCSS Director Tanguler Gray-Johnson. These achievements assisted DCSS in meeting our Paternity Establishment Goal, said Policy Unit Manager Erica Thornton. Georgia s children deserve the best and DCSS is fortunate to collaborate with such a dedicated group of service providers. BIRTH FACILITY / HOSPITAL INCREASE FFY12 PA S BOW S FFY13 BARROW REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER 11.25% 50.70% % MARTIN ARMY COMMUNITY HOSPITAL 10.32% 53.68% % CRISP REGIONAL HOSPITAL 10.21% 67.52% % HUTCHESON ERLANGER HEALTH SYSTEM 7.87% 63.61% % TANNER HEALTH SYSTEMS VILLA RICA 6.12% 66.31% % WASHINGTON COUNTY REG. MEDICAL CTR. 6.08% 62.96% % TAYLOR REGIONAL HOSPITAL 5.80% 64.52% % MEADOWS REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER 5.43% 65.28% % SOUTHEAST GA HEALTH SYSTEM CAMDEN 5.14% 65.43% % DCSS Collaborates with Bibb County RSM Team The DCSS Policy and Paternity Unit s Paternity Acknowledgment Program collaborated with the Bibb Right from the Start Medicaid (RSM) Team at their quarterly meeting on February 19th. The meeting was held at DCSS s Training and Staff Development facility in Macon. The Bibb RSM Project Team recently joined Georgia s Department of Community Health. DCSS provided training and brochures on the Voluntary Paternity Acknowledgment process. The Bibb RSM Project provides outreach at health fairs, hospitals and local health departments. Bibb RSM Team Members: Keyarta Jackson- Supervisor (Macon) Maria Eason- Medicaid Eligibility Specialist Lisa Hart - Medicaid Eligibility Specialist Daniele Lawson- - Medicaid Eligibility Specialist Charlene Lee - Medicaid Eligibility Specialist Carol Ross- Medicaid Eligibility Specialist Joni Taunton- Medicaid Eligibility Specialist

3 GEORGIA DIVISION OF CHILD SUPPORT SERVICES Page 3 Georgia Boosts Insurance and FIDM Collections Since joining the Child Support Lien Network (CSLN) in 2006, Georgia has been dedicated to its mission of holding parents responsible for the financial support of their children by exploring potential collection opportunities. In addition to insurance intercept, Georgia utilizes CSLN's Financial Institution Data Match (FIDM) module as another collection resource. Georgia recently allocated additional resources to work their CSLN FIDM matches after experiencing a significant rise in inventory over the late summer months. Thanks to this reallocation and their commitment to the child support program, Georgia collected an additional $1 million from the CSLN insurance and FIDM matches. The Child Support Lien Network congratulates Georgia on their tremendous efforts that will positively affect the families it serves! Reprinted from the Child Support Lien Network newsletter. DCSS and DFCS Collaborate Through the Fatherhood Agent Youth Engagement Program By Patricia K. Buonodono, J.D., C.W.L.S. Director, Georgia Child Support Project Administrative Office of the Courts On February 3rd and 4th, I was fortunate to attend the Fatherhood Agent Youth Engagement Program (FAYEP) training. FAYEP is such a great idea. DFCS and DCSS are working together to ensure that older youth in foster care are well prepared for life once they leave foster care by connecting them to local educational and employment resources while helping them overcome barriers such as transportation, criminal backgrounds, substance abuse and mental health. This is the same as they have done for adults in the Fatherhood Program since it started in According to the organization Children s Rights, statistics show that of the children who age out of foster care without a permanent family: percent struggle with homelessness percent do not complete high school percent are unemployed; those employed have average earnings below the poverty level, and only 38 percent of those employed were still working after one year percent have trouble accessing health care due to inadequate finances or lack of insurance percent are forced to rely on some form of public assistance and 50 percent experience extreme financial hardship percent will be arrested percent of young women become pregnant within months of leaving foster care. FAYEP is a groundbreaking program that helps these youth address many of these issues and avoid becoming part of these statistics. The training included Fatherhood Agents, leadership from DCSS and DFCS, Independent Living Specialists and many more. There were many great speakers. On day one, the staff from DCSS learned about the child welfare system and the work that is done there. At the end of that day, many DCSS workers commented on how helpful it was to learn what DFCS does. Day two gave DCSS an opportunity to teach DFCS staff about its work and especially what the Fatherhood Program does. Attendees learned how referrals would be made, what forms would be used and how to use Georgia SHINES. As with other programs, the Georgia Department of Human Services (DHS) is a national leader in community outreach. I am looking forward to hearing about the successes of the FAYEP program from my friends in both divisions of DHS. Patricia K. Buonodono, J.D., C.W.L.S. is an attorney at the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) and directs the Child Support Collaborative Project between the AOC and DCSS. She also works with the Georgia Commission on Child Support as their staff attorney.

4 PEACH STATE DISPATCH GEORGIA DIVISION OF CHILD SUPPORT SERVICES Page 4 Macon PSC Celebrates Graduation of 4 Participants The Division of Child Support Services repeatedly sent letters to Mark Williams ordering him to appear in court. He was $8,000 behind on child support payments for his two children. He had served 5 years in jail and the debt continued to pile up. The new Problem Solving Court (PSC) in Bibb County (Macon) offered Williams the tools he needed to begin paying off his child support arrears. We are willing to help someone who is willing to help themselves, said Macon Judicial Circuit Superior Court Judge Philip Raymond (right). Problem Solving Court seeks to remove the underlying issues that cause noncustodial parents to be chronic nonpayers of child support. The program provides an alternative to incarceration and help non-custodial parents build stronger relationships with their children. On February 14th, Williams was one of four men who stood together while the crowd in Judge Raymond s courtroom applauded their graduation from the program. Being around the guys, they motivated me to continue coming to the program and I stayed focused at the job and determined I was going to knock this child support down and I did, said Williams. In the first ten months of the Macon program, PSC participants paid $21,084, said Macon PSC Coordinator Steven Giglio. More than half of that amount was paid by the four men who graduated on February 14th. In the Alcovy Judicial Circuit, PSC recently expanded to include both Newton County and Walton County. A kick-off event in Walton County was held on February 25th in the courtroom of Judge Horace Johnson. Sometimes, people can have the false mentality of they re just all deadbeat parents, which is so far from the truth, said Alcovy PSC Coordinator Richard Kringer. It s a matter of addressing their barriers so that they can start being self-sufficient and start paying child support. Walton County PSC Kick Off Pictured at the right are (L-R) Alcovy Judicial Circuit PAC Coordinator Richard Kringer, PSC participant, Monroe DCSS Manager Lee Sanders, four PSC participants, Judge Horace Johnson (third from right), SAAG Lee Moss and Region 3 Manager Brenda Patrick.

5 Hinesville Intergovernmental Agent, Diane McKillop, recently collected a lump sum from a Florida lien in the amount of $12,283 which paid off all of the arrearage owed to the family. The Warner Robins office received a $12,333 court purge on a single case. New Waycross Agent Dalain Williams collected $3,237 through a bank lien. All of money goes to the family and paid off 70 percent of the NCP s arrears. Agent Dalain Williams in the Waycross office filed a lien on a NCP who has two cases where his total current support is over $1,600/month. The NCP met with Customer Service Agent Rhonda Strawder to request the liens be lifted and his driver's license and tags released. Rhonda advised the NCP he would need to pay his balances in full on both cases. The NCP left and returned. He met with Agent Diane Griffin and paid $7,330 which paid his current support for February and his full arrears balances on both cases. All money went to the families. The Waycross office had a very successful round up on March 10th. They collected a total of $17,189, obtained 26 contempt settlements, dismissed 3 contempts, closed 2 cases, obtained 18 MRAs, registered one foreign order, obtained 42 waivers of service and sent 31 FIWs to current employers. Gainesville Arrears Only Agent Bonnie Griffith received a worker's comp settlement check in the amount of $23,714. All initial indicators are that this will pay the case in full. The Macon office collected $10,546 from lien payments received on two cases for the same NCP. The Legal Team collected $4,005 during the contempt court hearings held on January 14th and $5,917 at the court date held on February 25th. Agent Carol Haralson collected $5,900 from a NCP who was scheduled for contempt. Macon Legal Agents Audrey Hayes and Carol Haralson collected $8,185 at the Bibb County contempt court. Agent Ruby Raymond worked with the initiating state on an arrears only case in order to obtain a lien payment of $11, from an NCP's estate to go towards arrears owed to the CP. This case had not received a payment since July GEORGIA DIVISION OF CHILD SUPPORT SERVICES Show Me the Money! Page 5 Macon Agent Margarett Fitzpatrick and Milledgeville Agent Holly Langford filed liens on an NCP s three cases (one in Macon and two in Milledgeville) and received a settlement payment of $20,026 to be split between the three cases. Marietta Agent Vickie Sears collected a lump sum payment of $6,500 from an NCP as the result of a contempt action she filed. The payment paid off all but $300 of his arrears. Agent Laura Parson collected a lump sum payment of $7,682 from a NCP to pay off his arrears in full so he could have his passport released for an overseas job opportunity. Gwinnett received a $50,000 purge on a case that has been ongoing for years. The office was able to receive this large sum due to the NCP having a court contempt since The office also received two purges from the same NCP. One was for $5,000 and one for $7,000 for both of his cases. This pays half of his arrears on both cases and one is an arrears only case. The Covington office hosted an Enforcement Round Up on February 27th and collected a total of $17,448. The Augusta office had total collections from court and lump sum payments from July January 2014 of $247,759. Agent Tamlar Walton collected $7,963 from court and lump sum payments in January. Tina Epps in Statesboro collected $4,250 from a worker's compensation lien. Cobb UIFSA Agent Rebecca Bailey Holt collected $15,000 on a passport release and Brenda Sutterfield collected $8,419, also on a passport release. McDonough Agent Karen Caldwell collected a $10,000 court purge from one NCP. Jackson Agent Crissie Burford received a lump sum payment on a property lien for $34,811. Dublin Hub Agent Christi P. Colbert received a worker's comp lump sum of $4,014 which aided in reducing arrears on 4 cases.

6 GEORGIA DIVISION OF CHILD SUPPORT SERVICES Putting Children First The purpose of the Peach State Dispatch is to provide interesting and important information related to Child Support employees and their jobs. Permission to reprint articles is granted. Acknowledging the Peach State Dispatch is appreciated. The Peach State Dispatch is published regularly by: Division of Child Support Services, a part of the Georgia Department of Human Services. Two Peachtree Street, 20th Floor, Atlanta, GA Retirement Celebration Darla Nicholls retired effective March 1, 2014 with 34 years of service to the State of Georgia. Darla started her career with the Department of Corrections in She joined Child Support Recovery in During her years with DCSS, Darla worked as a Front Desk Clerk, Locate Agent, Legal Secretary, Agent, Review/Modification Agent, Regional Financial Manager, State Office Accounting Manager, local office Supervisor and Performance Management Section Financial Compliance Monitor. February Outstanding Paternity Performance As of the end of February, the Statewide PEP is percent and the IV-D PEP is percent. The IV-D PEP exceeds the agency s performance from this time last year by 0.94 percent and the Statewide PEP is slightly behind last year by 3.21 percent. A total of twenty-seven offices met their cumulative performance goal. Twenty-four were also outstanding performers last month, as indicated by the asterisk. Four offices came off this list and three offices were added this month. Jackson (124)* Griffin (128) - new Thomaston (130)* Winder (226)* Athens (238)* Ellijay (310)* Cartersville (314)* Dalton (316)* Newnan (318)* Carrollton (320)* Rock Springs (324)* Rome (326)* Dublin (416)* Sandersville (418)* Milledgeville (422)* Dublin Hub - Dekalb (424)* Thomson (454)* Dublin Hub (456) - new Brunswick (512)* Savannah (552)* Statesboro (554) - new Albany (618)* Warner Robins (620)* Americus (624)* Cuthbert (650)* Tifton (652)* Sylvester (654)* An honorable mention goes to the following offices for having the highest established percentages toward their goals: Dublin Hub - Dekalb (424) at 207 percent, Sylvester (654) at 163 percent, Rock Spring (324) at 96 percent, and Sandersville (418) at 93 percent. Additionally, the following offices have established the largest cumulative amount of paternities as of the end of February: East Point/Dublin Hub-Fulton (120/456) with 229, Albany HUB (234) with 208, Stone Mountain/Dublin Hub- Dekalb (240/424) with 170, Augusta (410) with 134. The Americus office held its Annual Settlement Day on December 12, Enforcement agents scheduled 906 cases for the event. Collections on the day of the event totaled over $17,000. The office also collected more than $65,000 in November and December as part of the event, an increase of more than $25,000 compared to Settlement Day in Agent Kyewonsa (Phoebe) Kearse had purge and Settlement Day collections of $22,000+ in December.