After learning that parents had a negative reaction to one of its social service departments the state recently changed the department name.
After learning that parents had a negative reaction to one of its social service departments the state recently changed the department name. “The consensus was that the name of the child support division may actually discourage parents from participating in the program,” Julie Hamos, director of the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services, said in a written statement. “(And because) we offer free services that both custodial and non custodial parents can take advantage of, we don’t want anything to keep children from getting the support they deserve.” Previously the department was named the Division of Child Support Enforcement, but as of July 1 the new name is the Division of Child Support Services. The goal, said Hamos, of the department is to bring economic benefits to children, such as collection and disbursement of support payments, medical coverage, establishing legal paternity locating non-custodial parents.
Pamela Lowry, administrator for DCSS, added that the name change sends a message to parents that the department wants to help both custodial and non-custodial parents. Despite the state’s current financial problems, Mike Claffey, a spokesman for the IHFS, said fiscal year 2010 would mark the sixth year the state was successful at collecting over $1 billion in support for needy children.
Copyright 2010 Chicago Defender.
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