Child Support Collections Up 29% in ’96

Crediting better computer technology, a major office reorganization and increased staffing, the Orange County district attorney’s office Wednesday announced that child support collections rose 29% in 1996 over the year before.

The increase translates to a total of $74 million in 1996--a $16.6 million difference over 1995 collections. By comparison, child support collections in 1995 rose 12% over those in 1994.

“We implemented a total reorganization of the Family Support Division in late 1995, and the results are reflected in the greatly increased 1996 collection figures,” Dist. Atty. Michael R. Capizzi said.

The office collects child support for children who receive welfare benefits and, upon request, for non-welfare cases. Of the 149,535 active cases, 44% are welfare.

Some of the recent changes to the office are those that were recommended in a 1994 study by the accounting firm Price Waterhouse but were put on hold after the county bankruptcy and implemented only this year.

Before the study, for example, the office was divided into teams of specialists and a case would move from team to team as the issues involved changed. That meant confusion as to exactly who was handling the case and its status.

“Now we spend more time working the case than moving the case because it stands still within the team where we have knowledge of all the specialties,” said Sue Delarue, chief of the family support division.

Another improvement is a change in the hiring process that has brought attorneys into the family support division who have an interest in family law, Delarue said.

“Previously, new attorneys would come into family support for the first six to 12 months and then rotate to criminal division,” she said. “Now attorneys in family support choose to be here and remain here, and they have a career path of family law.”

The addition of 45 staff members in two years and more than $1.6 million in state funds have also helped, Delarue said.

The higher percentage of child support collections this year, which comes mostly from fathers who do not have custody of their children, drew a mixed reaction.

“I think that all fathers should maintain their obligation to their children, and if their new computer system and office changes are making it more efficient to collect support then I think that’s wonderful,” said John Nazarowski of United Fathers of America, an advocacy group in Orange that deals with fathers’ custodial rights.

“On the other hand, if the other side of the district attorney’s office could be as efficient in finding mothers who conceal the children, run away with them, collect welfare illegally and keep fathers from visiting their children, I think that that would be more wonderful for all persons involved,” he said.

Most of the district attorney’s cases involve recovering child support from non-custodial fathers, and the process can be arduous.

“First thing you have to do is you have to identify the father,” Delarue said. “If there’s not a legal marriage then you have to establish paternity and that’s a lengthy process.”

After a parent is located and paternity established, the office seeks a court order for payment. Last year the office had to locate 37,761 fathers before ordering them to pay and has secured court orders for 54% of its cases.