Program Summary, May 12

Director Jennifer Traumann clarified the frequent misconception that her department deals with child protection issues.  Instead, her agency manages collection and distribution of $29 million in financial support to nearly 13,000 county children.  That is about $2,300 per child annually, just $190 per month.

While 75% of the parents pay on time, the remainder of the cases belong to  parents whose location is being investigated.  17% of the caseloads are with children receiving welfare or in Foster Care.  Cases may be open as little as 4 months, or as long as 40 years.  Approximately 4,200 cases are non-welfare, 20% involve sources/parent(s) out of Sonoma County,  and 10% cannot be located.

Peggy Roth, the department's Attorney of Record succinctly summarized the agency's mission:  "We provide peace and legal support for families".

Founded in 1975 to recover welfare costs, the main scope of the agency is:  Establishing parental identity, child support orders, collecting child support, locating non-paying parents, and enforcing child support orders.