Susan Sherwood, Hancock County District Attorney’s Director of Child Support, and Attorney Brent Eaton: The Support Department set a record for collections in 2020 despite being hampered by pandemic restrictions. (Tom Russo | Daily Reporter)
Posted by Kristy Deer | Daily reporter
HANCOCK COUNTY – Proper care of the county’s most vulnerable children is a priority for prosecutors.
Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic over the past year, prosecutors set a record for the total number of child support payments over a one-year period, raising $ 4,616,885 in 2020.
The record amount is an increase of around 4% compared to the 2019 collections.
The money is collected as an enforcement of court orders for child support for parents without custody to support their children. The money raised is often a lifeline that helps meet basic needs such as food and clothing for growing children.
“It is very rewarding to know that in an economic environment where there is so much uncertainty, our team has found ways to keep this valuable financial lifeline open for the children of Hancock County,” said Attorney General Brent Eaton.
Concerns about COVID-19 forced the office to adjust. Several steps have been taken to ensure the safety of employees and customers. Personal appointments in the office were limited and eventually ended.
The communication that previously took place in person is now carried out by telephone or email.
The prosecutor worked with Hancock County’s IT department and the State Department of Child Services to find ways to work remotely while respecting state and state confidentiality guidelines.
Success has allowed the office to continue to work effectively, although the design of the office space makes social distancing impossible. In 2020, there were no positive COVID-19 tests among employees in the child benefit department.
“I’m very proud that the Hancock County Attorney’s Office is open every business day this year and, unlike many other district offices across the state, has never closed,” said Eaton. “It was a real challenge, but our team adapted to the occasion and was able to faithfully fulfill our obligations to the public.”
Eaton credited Child Support Director Susan Sherwood, who worked with his office to find creative ways to keep things going despite the challenges.
When the pandemic hit in March 2020 and the community essentially closed, Sherwood was a one-person machine that continued to put pressure on even as staff were forced to stay home.
“She was the only one who worked for about a month and did whatever she could to keep things going,” Eaton said.
Sherwood, who credits her staff with the record intake, said she was happy to help and continues to collect county child benefit payments.
“It is wonderful news that we have kept our numbers and even better than last year,” said Sherwood. “We are so grateful to the Hancock County children that we could do this for the families.”
Sherwood’s plan was to do something every day. Staff have been in regular contact with families to ensure that cases are monitored and violations are reviewed.
“We’re like a well-oiled machine,” said Sherwood. “We always know what the next step in this process is and we always think two steps ahead.”
Eaton is pleased that child support collection efforts have overcome the adversity of the pandemic. The state also took note: DCS recently announced to the office that it has met all federal performance metrics and received a 100% pass rating in a recent random assessment of cases across the state.
“When you have challenges, you learn a lot about people, and with Susan on board we had a lot to put on her back to keep the ship going,” said Eaton. “Some people find excuses, others find a way, and I’m proud that we found a way.”
Comments are closed.