Commissioners Proclaim August Child Support Awareness Month

LENOIR, NC (August 13, 2019) — The Caldwell County Commissioners recently adopted a proclamation recognizing August as Child Support Awareness month.

In Caldwell County, the Child Support program serves 3,274 children, has established 249 new child support obligations and paternity for 199 children, and has issued 5,014 enforcement actions. In fiscal year 2018-19, the staff intercepted over $300,000 in state and federal income taxes and collected more than $5.3 million in child support payments.

“I’m very proud of these staff and appreciative of the jobs they do every day,” said Martha Hedrick, Economic Services Administrator for Caldwell County Department of Social Services.

A service of the Department of Social Services, the Child Support program is staffed by 10 employees, who assist with locating noncustodial parents, establishing paternity and support obligations, collecting and distributing support, and enforcing support obligations.

Child Support services are available to anyone who is responsible for a child, regardless of income. Cases are often referred by the Work First Family Assistance program, Family and Children Medicaid, Foster Care, and DSS Custody cases. Custodial parents can request assistance at the Department of Social Services by completing a child support application and paying a $25 fee. In addition to the county’s program, private attorneys offer child support services; however, due to legislative changes, the Clerk of Court can no longer enforce Child Support cases.

National Child Support Awareness Month was established in 1995 by President Bill Clinton to recognize the importance of child support programs and the professionals who operate them to ensure children receive the necessary financial support to lead secure and healthy lives.