Child Enforcement Support staff plus commissioners.
BATAVIA, Ohio (July 22, 2015) – Ohio’s child support program affects more children in the state than any other public program, except education. That’s one reason Clermont County Commissioners proclaimed August Child Support Awareness Month at their July 22 session.
In Clermont County, Child Support Enforcement, a division of the county’s Department of Job and Family Services, administers child support for almost 20,000 children in 13,369 families, said JFS Assistant Director Brenda Gilreath. In 2014, Child Support administered more than $36 million in child support; of that, $27 million was collected through wage garnishment.
Child Support Enforcement provides many services, such as establishing paternity for children born out of wedlock, and establishing orders for child support or medical insurance. The division also modifies existing orders and provides early intervention services.
“Child support is essential to building some stability in a child’s life, whether that child is born to a single mother or the parents have divorced,” said Gilreath. “And it’s important to note that the majority of all parents – 72 percent — are in compliance with court-ordered child support.”
When parents are not in compliance or when administrative actions fail, Child Support Services works closely with the courts. Last year, 1,969 contempt of court hearings were conducted at Clermont County Domestic Relations and Juvenile Courts. A number of cases end up in Common Pleas Court, where delinquent parents are prosecuted and sometimes sent to prison.
Child Support Enforcement is holding several events in August in honor of Child Support Awareness Month:
• Aug. 4: Partners Summit. Judges Jerry McBride, Common Pleas Court; Kathleen Rodenberg, Domestic Relations Court; and James Shriver, Juvenile Court, will speak. State Director Jeff Aldridge will also provide a program update.
• Aug. 5: Wear green in honor of Child Support Awareness Month. Citizens throughout Clermont County are encouraged to wear green.
• Aug. 11: Employee Appreciation Luncheon – Pattison Park
• Aug. 21: Regional training for attorneys involved in child support cases. Attorneys from Adams, Brown, Clermont and Highland counties are invited to participate in this free 2-hour training, approved by the Ohio Supreme Court. The training will be held at Batavia Township Community Center.
For more information, contact Gilreath at brenda.gilreath@jfs.ohio.gov or 513-732-7887; more information is also available at www.clermontsupportskids.org.
(Photo above: Commissioner Bob Proud, left; Case Manager Supervisor Jemina Ott, Case Manager Supervisor Judy Howard; Fiscal Officer Annette Black, Lead Attorney Theresa Ellison; Assistant Director Brenda Gilreath, Commissioner David Uible; Commissioner Ed Humphrey.)
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