County of San Mateo Marks Child Support Awareness Month

SAN MATEO COUNTY, CA – The County of San Mateo’s Department of Child Support Services is marking August as Child Support Awareness Month, while also noting that its efforts have collected more than $32 million this fiscal year and helped parents avoid the court process by agreeing to a support order and following through on child support payments.

“Child support collection plays an important role in helping parents provide for their children and help them grow into adulthood,” said DCSS Director Kim Cagno. “My department’s responsibility is helping parents understand that obligation and find ways to help them meet it as easily and efficiently as possible.”

DCSS serves more than 9,500 children and families through such efforts as helping establish legal fatherhood through free genetic testing, establishing and enforcing child support orders and ensuring that either parent provides a child health insurance. In addition, if a child support order exists, the office will help modify orders based on income fluctuations over the life of the case, and tracks and maintains all collections and disbursements.

Cagno said her staff understands that clients are often experiencing difficult and emotional times, and in an effort to meet clients near their hometowns, DCSS is expanding its outreach to libraries in Belmont, Half Moon Bay and East Palo Alto.

Clients also can enroll in Customer Connect, an online information resource for balance, payment and contact information that lets them email caseworkers directly.

DCSS is also taking to the air to reach clients in their homes. Cagno teamed up with the Filipino Channel for a seven-episode series on child support. The first episode on “Adobo Nation” aired in July and two more will follow this month.

These new efforts join existing educational and payment options, including the free CAChildSup mobile app which provides access to one’s support account via a smartphone or tablet, and PayNearMe payment options at select 7-Eleven, Family Dollar and ACE Cash Express stores.

More information about the Department of Child Support Services and its resources are available at https://dcss.smcgov.org.

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