State Recognizes Erie County for Child Support Enforcement

March 18, 2009

The State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) recognized the Erie County Department of Social Services for increasing child support collections by 7.5 percent in 2008 to $74.9 million. It's one of the largest year-to-year increases in all of New York State.

Executive Deputy Commissioner Elizabeth Berlin presented a certificate of recognition to Erie County Executive Chris Collins and Erie County Department of Social Services Commissioner Michael Weiner and members of the county's child support enforcement staff.

"The performance of the Child Support Enforcement unit in Erie County is among the best in all of New York State," said Berlin. "Erie County's exemplary efforts are helping to improve the lives of the many children and families who rely on you."

"While many areas of child support enforcement have been computerized, the efforts involved in success collections still directly depend on our child support enforcement personnel," said Erie County Executive Chris Collins. "I congratulate each and every one of them," he continued. "The significant increase in support collections, recognized today, would not have been possible without their dedication and personal involvement," he added. Erie County Department of Social Services Commissioner Michael Weiner added his appreciation by saying, "I take pride in the performance of our OCSE team, who have been challenged with increasing workloads, and who labor so diligently to help protect the well being of children and their families. This team is comprised of clerical staff, data entry operators, investigators, paralegals, DSS attorneys and accounting staff who all work together and merit our recognition."

"Erie County's child support achievements reflect the daily effort and dedication of Erie County's child support professionals and are vitally important to the children and families they serve, particularly in these challenging economic times," said Deputy Commissioner Scott Cade, who oversees OTDA's Center for Child Well-Being.

Collections in Erie County increased from $69.7 million in 2007 to $74.9 million in 2008, an increase of 7.5 percent. That's among the highest rates of increase in all of New York State, and higher than the statewide increase of 6.4 percent. Total collections in New York State topped $1.7 billion last year, a record high, and the annual rate of growth was the highest the State has seen since 2001.

Berlin said Erie County also measures up very well in the other performance indicators tracked by OTDA, posting an 85 percent paternity establishment rate, better than the statewide average of 81 percent.