BATAVIA, OH — Ohio’s Child Support Program provides services to more than 1 million children in our state. Clermont County Child Support administers about 12,000 cases and collects $36 million dollars in child support each year.
County Child Support agencies work diligently to ensure that these children receive financial support for a better future. Child Support Month is a national initiative that helps inform families about the services child support agencies can provide in our communities.
“It is such an honor to serve the families of our county and to help protect children from the impact divorce and other types of separation can cause,” said Theresa Ellison, Deputy Director for the Clermont County CSEA.
The Child Support program encourages responsible parenting, family self-sufficiency, and child well-being. Agencies provide services to locate parents, establish parentage, establish child support and medical support orders, collect and distribute child support, modify orders when circumstances have changed, and enforce orders that are not being paid.
County Child Support agencies provide services to families of all types, from divorcing parents to unmarried parents, to caretaker relatives, to children in the foster care program, and others, regardless of family income.
“This year, we are also focusing our efforts on spreading awareness about the importance of establishing paternity,” Ellison said. “Paternity is a legal determination between a natural father and a child, and it is so important because it can provide both financial and emotional support. Parents can reach out to their local CSEA for more information on this service.”
BATAVIA, OH — Administrative Supervisor Christel Brown serves as Clermont County Child Support’s main contact with Safety Coordinator Gary Caudill.
“Christel and her staff work with me to take preventive actions so that accidents will not happen,” Caudill said.
Brown added: “It’s my job. Anything that’s safety-related, I coordinate with him.” She works for Theresa Ellison, the assistant director in charge of Child Support, and supervises the clerical unit and the customer service window.
For example, once an injury claim was reported, she met with Caudill and showed him the area where the incident occurred. She assisted Caudill and Terri Brandenburg, Human Resources coordinator, with the investigation report.
During the investigation process, Brown and her associates made corrective measures to assure the accident wouldn’t occur again. Brown and her team perform routine observations of the area to make sure no items are stored incorrectly.
As part of Clermont County’s prevention efforts, Christel coordinates Toolbox Talks, informal safety meetings specific to the job at hand. These meetings established by Caudill are normally 10-15 minutes, and cover topics such as workplace and office hazards and safe work practices.
“You might not always think of an office setting as an environment with safety hazards, but injuries can and do occur in office spaces – and actions like those taken by Christel and her team help prevent them from happening,” Caudill said.
BATAVIA, OH – Theresa Ellison brings more than 25 years of serving families into her new role of assistant director in charge of Clermont County Child Support. The Board of County Commissioners approved her promotion on Dec. 16.
“I believe strongly in the mission of our agency, which is to ensure that the children of our community receive the support they need and deserve,” Ellison said. “I am so excited to get started as the new deputy director, and I appreciate the confidence that Tim Dick (director of the Clermont County Department of Job and Family Services) and the Commissioners have shown in promoting me to the position.”
Dick cited Ellison’s education, leadership and demeanor as key attributes. He noted that the division collects $36 million yearly on behalf of 46,000 individuals.
Ellison has worked for Clermont County for almost 27 years. She began my career in 1994 as a staff attorney for Child Support Enforcement. In 1995, she was hired by Judge Voris as a magistrate for Domestic Relations Court and she remained in that position until returning as the lead attorney of the Child Support Division in 1997.
Longtime leader Brenda Gilreath last month announced her retirement, effective Jan. 1. She was with Clermont County Child Support for 35 years.
BATAVIA, Ohio (July 31, 2020) — The Board of County Commissioners this week acknowledged August as Child Support Awareness Month.
“Parenting and support go hand in hand in ensuring children grow up safe and healthy, and children and families stay out of poverty,” states a proclamation presented by the Commissioners on Wednesday. “Our children are our most precious resource, and by investing in them, we secure a future of hope and opportunity for us all.”
Brenda Gilreath, Assistant Director of Clermont County Child Support Services, noted that more than 12,500 Clermont County families benefitted from more than $35 million dollars in child support monies collected in Fiscal Year 2019.
Gilreath said that in Ohio, more than $1.8 billion is collected annually in child support, making it one of the most crucial elements of a family’s stability. She thanked employers for being such good partners with Child Support Services, along with the courts and Sheriff’s Office.
Once again this year, Clermont County Child Support is participating in a statewide coloring contest for children.
Children are encouraged to create and turn in their hand-drawn artwork to the Child Support office by 4 p.m. on Aug. 31. The artwork can be dropped off or mailed to: Child Support Services, 2400 Clermont Center Drive, Batavia Ohio 45103.
Prizes will be awarded for the top three submissions ($20, $15, $10 gift cards to McDonalds) and those entries will be referred to Child Support’s state office to be considered for a statewide calendar for distribution during an upcoming Child Support Awareness Month.
Click here for the drawing form: https://www.clermontsupportskids.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2020/07/coloring-page-for-child-2020.pdf
Also, click to obtain the Coloring Contest Information form which requires parent/guardian authorization: https://www.clermontsupportskids.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2020/07/coloring-contest-parent-release-form-2020.pdf
This release needs to be a separate document that is attached to the coloring page. Any artwork submitted without the parent/guardian authorization will be excluded from the contest.
Artwork by Alexis Mullis, 6, of Clermont County in on the 2021 cover.
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BATAVIA, OH (June 1, 2020) – Clermont County Child Support is offering an opportunity for payors to have bench warrants recalled or canceled for failure to appear for a child support hearing OR for failure to report to jail to serve a sentence for failure to pay child support.
Here are the steps to follow:
The offer runs through July 31, 2020. Contact Child Support as soon as possible for more information or to take advantage of the recall.
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BATAVIA, Ohio (Aug. 2, 2019) — County Commissioners have acknowledged August as Child Support Awareness Month.
“Parenting and support go hand in hand in ensuring children grow up safe and healthy, and children and families stay out of poverty,” states a proclamation recently presented by the Commissioners. “Our children are our most precious resource, and by investing in them, we secure a future of hope and opportunity for us all.”
Brenda Gilreath, Assistant Director of Clermont County Child Support Services, noted that in 2018, her office administered 13,214 open cases serving 45,839 individuals (adults and children) – collecting $35.9 million on behalf of the families served.
Gilreath said that in Ohio, more than $1.8 billion is collected annually in child support, making it one of the most crucial elements of a family’s stability. She thanked employers for being such good partners with Child Support Services, along with the courts and Sheriff’s Office.
Once again this year, Clermont County Child Support is participating in a statewide coloring contest for children.
Children are encouraged to create and turn in their hand-drawn artwork to the Child Support office by 4 p.m. on Aug. 31. The artwork can be dropped off or mailed to: Child Support Services, 2400 Clermont Center Drive, Batavia Ohio 45103.
Prizes will be awarded for the top three submissions ($20, $15, $10 gift cards to McDonalds) and the first-place submission will be referred to Child Support’s state office to be considered for a statewide calendar for distribution during an upcoming Child Support Awareness Month.
The artwork requires an authorization by a parent or guardian. More information on the contest can be found here: https://bit.ly/2O3Xgju.
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BATAVIA, Ohio (June 7, 2019) – Ohio’s Child Support Program will replace the e-QuickPay Debit Master Card with the smiONE payment card starting July 1. For a smooth transition, Clermont County Child Support Services urges parents to:
The smiONE payment card offers EMV chip security, mobile wallet, secondary cards, no fees or teller withdrawals, and more in-network ATMs.
“The new card brings many benefits to parents,” said Brenda Gilreath, deputy director of Clermont County Child Support Services. “However, it’s very important that we have their latest address information to ensure they receive the card timely.”
Clermont County Child Support serves 45,391 individuals, of which 18,629 are children.
Visit jfs.ohio.gov/OCS or www.clermontsupportskids.org., or contact Clermont County Child Support at 513-732-7248 or 800-571-0943.
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Judy Eschmann
BATAVIA, Ohio (May 28, 2019) – Judy Eschmann, the Director of the Clermont County Department of Job & Family Services, is retiring on May 31 after five-and-a-half years at the helm of the agency here, and a career of 33 years in social work.
That can be a tough and challenging profession, but for Eschmann, it’s been a rewarding one. The Batavia native went to the University of Cincinnati intending to become a school teacher or social worker. After college, she took the civil service test required to work for what was then known as the county welfare department.
“Hamilton County hired me (a very young and green version of me) and I set out to ‘save the world’ and the next 33 ½ years just flew by,” she says.
As a lobby receptionist for Hamilton County, she was the first face that hundreds of people saw each day as they came in for assistance. “I worked my way up a career ladder and had an opportunity to work in many positions including case worker, supervisor, trainer, and policy coordinator,” Judy said. “In 2010, I became the director of Clinton County DJFS which is structured very similar to Clermont DJFS, but on a much smaller scale. It was a great place to learn about all the connections among agency programs including funding, shared services, program mandates and overlaps and most importantly our shared customers.
“In 2013, I became director of Clermont County DJFS and have loved every minute of it,” she says.
As director in Clermont County, Judy said she is most proud of the summer youth employment program that DJFS manages and that enlists local employers to hire youth from low-income families for summer jobs. Those jobs, which pay $10 an hour, can make a big difference to the kids – and their families.
“I remember only having a few months to pull that program together,” she says.” Our entire agency assisted with identifying eligible youth as well as reaching out and recruiting employers to serve as worksites. That team effort was the foundation for a program that has grown each year and served hundreds of youth.”
Eschmann says that it’s easy to misunderstand exactly what DJFS does – because it encompasses so many divisions.
“The name of Job and Family Services is vague and does not describe who we are, and most people don’t realize what we do,” she says. “We are a social service agency with a team of dedicated, talented, compassionate staff. In our Public Assistance Division, we assist families with temporary and long-term benefits (food, cash and Medicaid). In our OhioMeansJobs Center, we provide services to job seekers and employment training. In our Child Support Division, we establish paternity and enforce child support orders. In our Children’s Protective Services Division, we work with families to overcome barriers to keep children safe.”
As she starts a new chapter, Eschmann says, “I’m so glad I had the opportunity to end my JFS career in the county I call home. I believe the programs we administer help assist individuals and families with self-sufficiency, assist with supporting a healthy community and assist with keeping children safe. I am fortunate to work with a talented team and all our accomplishments were possible because of my team.”
After relaxing with her family a bit at home, Eschmann says she’s ready for a new career. “While I’m not as young or as green as I once was, I still have a fair amount of ‘save the world’ left in me.”
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Detective Bill Brewer
BATAVIA, Ohio (Feb. 6, 2019) – All Clermont County courts and many county offices will be closed Friday, Feb. 8, to allow employees to attend, view or participate in services for Sheriff’s Detective Bill Brewer, who lost his life in the line of duty on Feb. 2.
CLOSED
Sheriff’s Office: Administrative offices close at noon Thursday and all day Friday.
Common Pleas Court: Closes at 2 p.m. Thursday and all day Friday. This also includes Probation, Law Library, and Court Services.
Juvenile Court/Probate Court: Closes at 2 p.m. Thursday and all day Friday.
Prosecutor’s Office: Closes at 2 p.m. Thursday and all day Friday.
Domestic Relations Court: Closes at 2 p.m. Thursday and all day Friday. All hearings will be scheduled to the next available time.
Board of County Commissioners’ office, and departments including Water Resources Administration Building, Building Inspection, Permit Central, Job & Family Services, OhioMeansJobs/Clermont County, and Department of Community & Economic Development: Closed Friday.
Municipal Court: Closed Friday. Those who have an arraignment scheduled for Friday will be sent a new court date. They can also check the Clermontclerk.org website for updated information.
Common Pleas Clerk’s Office, Domestic Relations Clerk and all auto title offices: Closed Friday.
Public Defender’s Office: Closed Friday.
Auditor’s Office: Closed Friday.
Recorder’s Office: Closed Friday.
Engineer’s Office: Closed Friday.
Public Health: Closed Friday.
Coroner’s Office: Closed Friday; on call at 513.543.0129.
OPEN
Some county offices will be open, including the Treasurer’s Office, which is accepting payments for first-half property taxes, which are due Feb. 13. The Municipal Clerk of Court Office will be open Friday. The Board of Elections office will be open Friday.
Bus service in Clermont County, including Dial-A-Ride, will operate normally.
The county website, www.clermontcountyohio.gov, has separate pages for each county office, including how to contact them. Check there if you have questions on whether an office is open or closed.
Services for Detective Brewer are as follows:
Family and friends are invited to a public visitation from 4-8 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 7, at Mount Carmel Christian Church, 4110 Bach Buxton Rd, Batavia, OH 45103, under the direction of E.C. Nurre Funeral Home in Amelia. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at the church. Interment will follow at Pierce Township Cemetery.
