Allen Clay, Seek Work coordinator

We’ll help you get a job so you can pay child support. If you don’t take advantage of this offer, you’ll face the consequences.

Under the new Seek Work program, unemployed or “under-employed” people with child support obligations are being ordered to participate in job training and placement services. Those who don’t appear and/or participate face administrative actions such as license suspension and maybe even contempt of court.

Earlier this year, the county began ordering unemployed child support obligors to the Super Jobs Center, 1916 Central Parkway. Super Jobs offers job leads and referrals, access to computers, fax machines and copiers, one-on-one career counseling, workshops and financial assistance for training.

The Hamilton County Department of Job and Family Services plays an important role in the center, a partnership among social service providers, employment experts and business. The agency’s Workforce Development unit oversees a contract with Arbor E&T, which handles day-to-day operation of Super Jobs.  

“We are building a bridge between Child Support and Workforce Development as part of our efforts to better serve the community,” said Jeff Startzman, the Hamilton County JFS assistant director who oversees both programs.  “On the Child Support side, we have a lot of absent parents who need jobs. Meanwhile, Workforce Development helps people find jobs or better jobs, and helps employers find needed workers.” 

Workforce Development began reporting to Startzman last year with programs such as Seek Work in mind. Startzman, who came to HCJFS in 2005, had seen successful Child Support/Workforce Development partnerships in other Ohio counties. Montgomery County has had a Seek Work program for a number of years. He helped  develop the program there as Domestic Relations Court administrator. 

Child Support technician Allen Clay serves as Seek Work coordinator. Clay conducts group orientation sessions, answers individuals’ questions, tracks participation in services, and gives progress reports about each individual to the courts and Child Support hearing officers. He works closely with Angela Storms of Workforce Development and her supervisor, Robert Harper, as well as Child Support Section Chief Germaine Sheppard and supervisor Al Howard.  

“Once the participants are linked to employment, the program is a win-win for everyone,” Clay said. “Participants find employment to become self-sufficient, and the children receive child support as ordered by the courts.” 

Those who fail to fulfill their Seek Work commitment face actions such as license suspension and contempt of court citations, Clay added. 

“The objective is for people to find and keep a job,” Clay said. “We want them to report their employment, so we can initiate wage withholding. We want them to overcome barriers, comply with court-ordered child support, maintain stable employment, become self-sufficient, and reunify with their children.” 

Startzman sees Seek Work as one of many initiatives designed to improve customer service, develop positive relationships with Child Support customers, and strengthen the community. 

“Working cooperatively, we can get more money into the hands of families as they pay for expenses such as food, medical care and education for their children,” Startzman said. “The purpose of the child support program is to give children the opportunity for a better life.”