Lassen County’s Department of Child Support Services has been recognized with an Achievement Award from the National Association of Counties for their outreach project at Herlong Federal Correctional Institution. The local child support agency was recognized for their ‘Building a Meaningful Relationship’ program which educates inmates at the prison about the child support program.
The goal of the ‘meaningful relationship’ program is that inmates leave incarceration prepared to engage in their child support case and actively participate in their children’s lives. The award, honors innovative, effective county government programs that enhance services for residents.
According to Child Support Services Director Kelley Cote FCI Herlong reached out to her agency in January of 2013 to discuss collaboration within their re-entry programs. The Outreach Project was developed, with the goal of providing awareness of the child support program with a strong emphasis being placed on inmates addressing their child support cases prior to release from incarceration.
“There was no budget for this project, just the time and energy of all team members,” explains Cote. “On May 22nd, 2013, our first outreach seminar was held for California based prisoners, intergovernmental prisoners, those prisoners based in the Camp, and with the Herlong FCI staff.”
“Our return visit for our one-on-one meetings with the inmates was in August of 2013. During the seminars the inmates were able to complete a Case Assistance form.”
Lassen County child support staff researched every inmate’s case based on the information provided. For most local child support agencies this was the first verification they had that an inmate was incarcerated in a federal prison and were able to obtain release dates for these participants. Staff met one-on-one with each inmate to provide the results of the research done on their case.
Cote said that inmates are now taking interest in their children, making payments on their cases and having frequent contacts with their local child support agency prior to and after release. By encouraging information exchange with the inmates and their local agencies, over $433,900 has been zeroed out either by case closure or participation in Compromise of Arrears Program.
“They understand paying child support is a way to show they care for their children,” said Cote. “All involved in the collaboration hope that inmates will leave incarceration prepared to engage in their child support case and actively participate in their children’s lives.”
Here’s a brief video describing the program:
County Administrative Officer, Richard Egan said, “Lassen County is very proud of Ms. Cote and her team at the Department of Child Support Services, and their national recognition from the National Association of Counties. They have designed, developed, and implemented an innovative partnership with the Federal Prison System to integrate inmate parents into the County system, which helps them fulfill their responsibilities as parents. I expect this innovative model to be used nationwide.”
Nationally, awards are given in 21 different categories that reflect the vast, comprehensive services counties provide. The categories include children and youth, criminal justice, county administration, environmental protection, information technology, health and civic engagement.
The awards will be presented at National Association of County’s 2015 Annual Conference and Exposition in Mecklenburg County, N.C. this July.
Started in 1970, NACo’s annual Achievement Award Program is designed to recognize innovative county government programs. Each nominee is judged on its own merits and not against other applications received.
Comments are closed.