SEPTEMBER DECLARED CHILD SUPPORT MONTH IN DELAWARE

WILMINGTON - Governor Jack Markell has declared September 2010 as Child Support Month in Delaware. In a proclamation presented to Charles Hayward, Director of the Department of Health and Social Services Division of Child Support Enforcement (DCSE), Markell noted the work of the division's employees and stressed that children in the State of Delaware, are the most important resource we have and deserve to be supported emotionally, physically and financially by both parents.

At a celebration this afternoon, Hayward reviewed the recent successes of the division. In state fiscal year 2010, DCSE collected $97,715,116 in child support with collections having increased by more than $19.5 million over the last nine years, representing an increase of 25% from the collection level achieved during State Fiscal Year 2001. He also noted the division, in conjunction with the courts, local hospitals, birthing centers and health and social service professionals, has established paternity for 59,927 children in its caseload who were born out-of-wedlock, using the standard judicial process or the Voluntary Acknowledgement of Paternity program through the end of the federal fiscal year 2009.

Division officials also unveiled The First State Family Card, a pre-paid MasterCard account that is credited whenever a payment is posted to any/all of a client's child support case(s). The card provides added convenience to child support clients. No line of credit is associated with the card and no bank account is required. It also eliminates the need for a check to arrive in the mail, reduces extra trips to the bank, and can be used anywhere MasterCard is accepted.

Joining DHSS and DSCE officials was Officer Sonia Trudeau, of the Community Services Unit of the New Castle County Police Department. Officer Trudeau is collaborating with the Division to offer child support clients FREE Child ID's through the Ident-A-Kid Program, on Tuesday, September 14 from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and Tuesday, September 21 from 1:00-6:00 p.m. The events will take place at the New Castle County Police Headquarters, 3601 N. DuPont Highway (Route 13), New Castle, DE 19720. Walk-ins are welcome, no appointments necessary.

Delaware Health and Social Services is committed to improving the quality of the lives of Delaware's citizens by promoting health and well-being, fostering self-sufficiency, and protecting vulnerable populations.