Transcript CSDA Directors AOC P..

Judicial Council
Administrative Office of the Courts
Child Support Program
Michael Wright
Program Manager/Supervising Attorney
Court Child Support Program Background
• Governor’s Child Support Task Force (1993-1995)
• Court Reform Legislation (1996) (AB 1058)
• Creation of specialized commissioners
•
Judicial establishment/enforcement of child
support
•
Simplified procedures and forms
•
Uniformity to help streamline process
•
Establish Family Law Facilitators
Role of the Administrative Office of the Courts
•
Provide policymaking direction
•
Provide funding to local courts
•
Provide training for all program court staff
•
Develop rules of court and forms
•
Judicial branch liaison to DCSS
•
Program communication hub
Standard Agreements
• State DCSS to Administrative Office of the Courts
• AOC to Local Courts
• Local Plans of Cooperation between local child
support agencies and the court
State DCSS –AOC Agreement
• Separate Agreement for CSC & FLF
• Provides statewide lump sum funding
• Requires compliance with federal program
regulations
• Comply with state legislative mandates
• Meet & confer regarding program problems
AOC-Court Agreements
• Minimum qualifications of commissioners
• Priority of Title IV-D actions
• Requires annual plan of cooperation between court
and local agencies
• Allocate local court funding for CSC & FLF
•
Allocation per formula + historical spending + special needs
•
Annual base allocation w/midyear adjustment/reallocation
•
Block grant with expectations of certain basic services
Local Plans of Cooperation
• Priority for Title IV-D hearings
• Processing time standards
• Quarterly POC meetings
• Meet and confer prior to peremptory challenge of
commissioner
• Miscellaneous local issues
Court Program Funding
• Commissioners FY 08/09 ($45 million)
• Facilitator FY 08/09 ($15 million)
• Amounts include new federal draw down option
• Fiscal Year 08/09 funding was reduced 9%
• Non-Title IV-D Funding (Trial Court Funds)
Challenges to Effective Working Relationship
• Organizational cultural differences
• Distinct legal roles and responsibilities
• Lack of understanding of others decision-making
processes
• Failure to communicate decision-making rationales
• Lack of communication infrastructure
Tips to Enhance Effective Working
Relationship
• Acknowledge differing perspectives and roles
• Identify and memorialize respective roles,
responsibilities and agreements
• Identify and emphasize common program goals
• Develop a culture of communication
• Develop regular forums for communication
• Develop mechanisms for conflict resolution
Current Hot Issues
• Funding
• Internal Guideline Calculator
• Court Statewide Automation Project (CCMS)
• Facilities
• Elkins Task Force
• Child Support Guideline Study
Contact Information
• Michael Wright
•
[email protected]