Child Support strategy draws national attention

March 5, 2007 -- One of Child Support’s best practices is truly among the best -- in the nation.

The Arrears Management Strategy will appear in the federal Office of Child Support Best Practices Compendium, a collection of strategies available to all states to learn about successful child support programs and organizational practices.

Hamilton County’s strategy was one of just three selected from 33 best practices that the state Office of Child Support (OCS) submitted to the federal office. They were obtained from 15 county agencies in areas such as early intervention, performance improvement, overall management, customer service
and collaboration.

Hamilton, Fairfield and Delaware counties were chosen for “best practices which improve outcomes for customers, enhance organizational results or increase staff performance,” said Jeffrey Aldridge, acting deputy director, state Office of Child Support.

In the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30, the agency exceeded its arrears collections goal for the first time due to a number of focused efforts such as targeted letter campaigns.  HCJFS showed significant improvement -- 64.48 percent, up from 61.23 percent in 2005. The agency began the year ranked sixth among the state’s eight metro areas in getting arrears payments, but ended fourth. That was second-best improvement among metro counties.

“I am very proud of the job our staff does for the children and families we serve,” Assistant Director Jeff Startzman says. “This recognition is but a small part of the innovations and hard work that goes on in Hamilton County every day.”