|
|
|
Committee Minutes
October 10, 2002
Time: 10:00am
Pat Cameron
Sammy Haithcock
John Holcombe
William Rose
Linda Byrd
Jerry Rhodes
John Jablonski
Marvin Rouse
Jack Jones
Steve Garrison
Beverly Sulecki
Cathie Alexander
Barry Burger
Debbie Henderson
Lillie W. Pernell
Patricia Holcombe
Gayle Johnston
Elbert Keith
Jack Jones asked if a paragraph was missing from section IV of the minutes. Sammy Haithcock advised he did not know but will check with Pat Cameron. No other corrections were made to the minutes. The minutes were approved by the committee.
Sammy Haithcock asked by a showing of hands how many persons present are DSS Directors or a DSS Director Designee. He advised you have to be a DSS Director or DSS Director Designee to be a voting member of the Child Support Committee. If you are not a voting member you may contact your DSS Director to be added to the list of voting members. Sammy Haithcock advised state staff are staff to the committee and not members. Sammy Haithcock stated the Child Support Committee has been charged to develop a charter and workplan. A copy of the Committee Charter was handed out to the members.
Barry Miller advised workfirst goals are state mandated. There is no statutory requirement for collection goals. Child Support Enforcement will continue to have collection goals. There are no sanctions for collection goals.
Sammy Haithcock inquired as to how these goals relate to each other. Barry Miller advised they do not correlate. TANF goals are related to the caseload. Collection goals looks at the TANF and NonTANF collections as well. Mr. Miller stated he does not set a TANF goal which is set by Wilbur by statue.
Sammy Haithcock asked shouldn’t Barry Miller and the person that sets the TANF goal come together so there will not be a vacuum.
Jerry Rhodes stated he thinks it is silly to have two separate child support goals coming from DHHS.
Jack Jones asked what is the goal set by Wilbur. Barry Miller advised it is the percentage of cases for establishment of paternity and support orders per year and the percentage of collections of increase for those TANF cases.
Patricia Holcombe advised the percentage is 3% for collections and 4% for orders.
Elbert Keith advised the standard was changed last year from 10% using the same percentage for the current fiscal year which is 3% and 4%.
Barry Miller advised the information is ready but the excel table has not been completed. He has plans to have it out the next fiscal year.
Sammy Haithcock inquired with Barry Miller the issue of cost efficiency when reporting. He suggested that whatever is reported, let it be a true measure of FTE’s. Let it match the information on the 1571 Report. Use the FTE’s already associated with the total cost.
Pat Cameron asked when is the due date for this legislative report. Barry Miller stated there is no due date, but it will be sent out the last quarter of next year. Pat Cameron suggested the child support committee may want to have a committee to sit down and take a look at the reporting measures.
Marvin Rouse asked if child support enforcement has any ongoing publicity campaign about child support. Barry Miller advised there is nothing ongoing but child support enforcement has already done publicity with Amnesty and will have do another publicity about tax set-off. Mr. Miller advised we do have staff to assist with publicity who is Debbie Crane.
Marvin Rouse asked if the Fatherhood Campaign is still a big push. Barry Miller advised that the agency has received monies to assist with Fatherhood Initiative which was provided to other entities to assist noncustodian parents in getting job skills training. Mr. Miller advised he has applied for several grants but he has not received a reply.
Marvin Rouse stated he did a newspaper article of 400 noncustodian parents that had not paid their support. He asked is there a problem of people getting lost. Barry Miller advised 60% of orders are being paid per the order. Mr. Rouse advised maybe we need to talk with Debbie Crane about the possibility of doing a statewide campaign. There is a need to communicate this problem with the general population.
Sammy Haithcock asked if it would be feasible to get Debbie Crane to come to the next meeting to hear ideas/suggestions.
Barry Miller advised no federal legislation to report.
Barry Burger advised the NC Child Support Guidelines changes will be effective October 1, 2002. Some of the changes addressed in the new guidelines are:
1. Increase Self Support Reserve
2. High Income Level
3. How to treat SSA as income
4. Credit being given if there is not a child support order
5. Health Insurance- ( if/when clause)
6. Clarification on which worksheet to use when the income is in the shaded area.
The changes will be made to ACTS by the programmers and a training document and powerpoint presentation is being prepared by Debbie Henderson of the Policy and Training Unit for the CSE staff.
Barry Burger also advised agents will see an increase in the number of $50 orders.
Debbie Henderson advised there will be a new screen added to ACTS to be used when both parties are noncustodian parents. This will be a Worksheet A- Third Party Custody.
Barry Burger advised the National Medical Support Notice is going well since implementation.
Marvin Rouse asked if CHIP insurance qualifies for adequate health insurance for the child. Barry Burger advised this is adequate coverage. These cases are not referred to IV-D. Mr. Rouse asked if IV-D should pursue health insurance coverage if we know the child is receiving CHIP. Barry Burger advised if we know, “no”.
Barry Burger advised the Pay After Performance Policy with IV-A is effective October 1, 2002.
Jerry Rhodes asked about the issue of inefficiency of the courts. Barry Miller advised this matter is being pursued.
Meeting Adjourned 11:27am.
