Connie Brunn, Director, San Bernardino County DCSS
Steve Eldred, Secretary and Director, Orange County DCSS
Debbie Frahm, Assistant Director, Ventura County DCSS
Steven J. Golightly, Director, Los Angeles County CSSD - Permanent Seat
Adele Hendrickson, Director, Tuolumne County DCSS
David Ingersoll, Director, Stanislaus County DCSS
Terri Love, Director, Shasta County DCSS
Phil Lowe, Director, San Luis Obispo County DCSS
Ralph Miller, Treasurer and Director, Santa Clara County DCSS
Iliana Rodriquez, President and Director, San Mateo County DCSS
Kathy Sokolik, Director, Santa Cruz/San Benito DCSS
Sharon A. Stone,
Vice President and Director, Butte County DCSS
Next Meeting
| Date : |
Wednesday, March 10, 2010 |
Time:
|
8:00 - 12:00 p.m. |
Location:
|
CSDA Offices |
Message from CSDA President Iliana Rodriguez
Greetings and welcome to the Child Support Directors Association website. I am honored and privileged to serve as president for the association. I'm extremely optimistic about our future.
There is no question these are challenging times for all of us. The economic realities we have been struggling with over the past seven years are now everywhere. Both the private and public sector are feeling the impacts of the economic downturn. But while pressures are present everywhere, so is opportunity.
As we start 2009, California now has one certified single statewide child support system. Like anything new, the system has some issues which need correction but we are well on our way towards working with the California Department of Child Support Services (DCSS) to address and prioritize these issues with the creation of the CCSAS Executive Steering Committee. This new system provides us with the opportunity to improve the program and deliver our services to residents in ways we never thought possible and in a more effective and efficient manner. Who would have thought that a case participant could walk into any county and have his and/or her child support question answered or issue resolved. While we are not there today we are getting closer. One of our goals this year will be to work collaboratively with DCSS to improve the system and improve the delivery of services to the benefit of the children and families we serve.
The Association's mission is to support child support services across the state that promote child well-being and family self sufficiency by helping parents meet their mutual obligation to provide financial and medical support for their children. Due to automation in past years we found ourselves juggling multiple priorities and we were unable to focus all our efforts on improving performance. We now have that opportunity.
After seven years of flat funding, the Governor and Legislature approved a 2.7% augmentation to local budgets. This presents an opportunity for us to demonstrate what an investment in the program can yield. After twenty years in the program I do not believe there will be one great new innovative practice that will revolutionize our performance. We'll be calling on local directors to present their local initiatives at each membership meeting so we can share best practices and learn from each other. As the old saying goes, slow and steady wins the race. We'll work together this year to put together a string of initiatives which will improve performance in 2009 and for years to come.
Last year, our Association focused on improving relations with DCSS to build a true partnership. We will continue down this path as it is essential to the success of the program. We will continue to reach out to all local directors for ideas and participation to improve the Association and it's committee structure.
I sincerely appreciate your dedication and support of the Association, and pledge to do all I can as we modernize and move the program forward. I encourage you to share your thoughts, ideas and suggestions with me as we forge an even stronger program and demonstrate the value of good government.
Iliana Rodriguez,
President, Child Support Directors Association
Director, San Mateo County DCSS