Dialing For Dollars Programs

About the Program

Category: Human Services (Best in Category)

Year: 2012

San Bernardino County Department of Child Support Services (DCSS) has started a mission to establish and enforce child and medical support orders, establish paternity, and collect and distribute support to the families they serve. To support this mission, DCSS has established the "Dialing for Dollars" program. The goal of the program is to increase collections by making contact with delinquent obligors and helping them get their payments back on track. To aid in this goal, DCSS has partnered with the San Bernardino County Transitional Assistance Department (TAD), through its Welfare-to-Work program. Both departments operate within the County's Human Services organization and collaborate in a number of program areas. The program offers work experience that prepares a participant for future employment by focusing on the development of skills in the key areas of communication, dress, and personal appearance, while offering valuable work experience. WEX workers contact delinquent child support obligors by hone to obtain employment information, and request a payment toward their obligation. Since the program started, WEX workers have made over 150,000 calls; collected over $607,878 in support, identified 145 new employers who will participate in the program, and contributed to an increase in the collection of past due support. Additionally, 40 percent of the WEX workers who participate in the Dialing for Dollars program have moved into subsequent employment.