Marin Dept. of Child Support Services 'Eager to Help Families'

MARIN COUNTY, CA — As Child Support Awareness Month got underway Aug. 1, the Marin County Department of Child Support Services reminded parents that their support can fundamentally shape their children’s future.

Marin County DCSS does more than collect and distribute child support payments from parents. It facilitates the support process by helping monitor support payments, establishing paternity, overseeing medical support, and reviewing existing orders for possible adjustment to reflect the financial circumstances of the family.

“We talk to both parents about what’s going to happen so it’s not just coming to them in a form letter,” DCSS Director Jill Francis said.

Marin County DCSS works collaboratively with parents, their employers, our local Court and family law practitioners, other County departments, and several community based organization to help ensure consistent monthly child support payments.

According to Francis, “A family should be able to financially plan for economic stability with steady child support payments. A family that is financially stable can create a better lifestyle.”

Marin County has a strong track record of securing reliable monthly child support for its residents, ranking in the top 10 among California counties since 2012. In 2015, the 27-employee Marin County DCCS collected more than $11 million in payments. As of July 1, 2016, Marin County DCSS had 78.7 percent of parents paying on a regular basis; Francis said 80 percent is “our realistic goal.”

“We’re here to make sure support payment is received on a consistent and reliable basis,” Francis said. “As circumstances change in a household, missing one month of child support can be huge on a family, and the person who missed the payment. When a child turns 18 and the family has been paid in full, we’ve done our job.”

Work is nearly completed on a renovated Marin County DCSS office at 88 Rowland Way, Suite 200 in Novato. The lobby is much more customer-friendly and there are now four small interview rooms rather than two for enhanced privacy during consultations.

“We think it feels more welcoming, and that’s going to help customer service,” Francis said.

— Article and photo contributed by County of Marin Public Information Office