San Diego Stand Down 2009, Department of Child Support Services

About the Program

Category: Human Services (Best in Category)

Year: 2010

For over eight years, the San Diego County Department of Child Support Services (SDDCSS) has participated in Stand Down, a three day, annual event providing homeless veterans with services and information from community providers. From 2000-2008, SDDCSS participated in Stand Down to discuss with veterans their child support issues. SDDCSS provided information about specific cases as well as identified possible resources available to assist in resolving child support concerns. Over time, it became clear that the vast majority of veterans were in need of a court hearing, but were unable to access the Court. In order to better serve homeless veterans and their children, in 2009, SDDCSS was asked to lead a pilot project in conjunction with the San Diego County Superior Court and Thomas Jefferson School of Law Veteran’s Clinic. The purpose of the pilot was to bring the Court to Stand Down. In the process, the county aimed to identify homeless veterans who had child support cases and unresolved issues in need of a court hearing. Doing so provides veterans an opportunity to have their cases heard in a neutral environment where they might be more likely to participate and reconnect with their child support case.