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Child Support director: program met most benchmarks; leftover 2024 funds used for office upgrades
Summary
Melanie Walters said the child support program met benchmarks for October–December except for arrears collection (at 61.89% toward an 80% annual benchmark), used unspent 2024 funds to buy office furniture and is updating cooperative agreements and policies for 2025.
Melanie Walters, child support director, reported to the Richland County Health & Human Services Committee that the child support program met all October–December benchmarks except for the arrears-collection metric and that the office used remaining 2024 funds for modest furniture and security purchases.
Walters said the arrears-collection measure resets Oct. 1 and the program’s current standing toward the 80 percent annual benchmark is 61.89 percent. She told the committee the program has through Sept. 30 to reach the 80 percent target.
On operations and office improvements, Walters said the agency received updated office furniture from the UW campus and bought privacy panels, small locking filing cabinets, monitor stands and desk organizers using leftover 2024 funds; she estimated those purchases at about $600. She said the agency purchased new locking cabinets because campus units could not find keys to older cabinets, and state regulations require locking storage for child support files.
Walters said cooperative agreements with the clerk of court and the family court commissioner — which reimburse 66 percent of certain expenses — have been drafted; the clerk returned its agreement and the family court commissioner’s agreement was pending. She also reported the annual contract between Richland County and the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families (DCF) remains in place for 2025 to provide child support services.
Walters said the child support program turned 50 this year and that she is working with county attorney and staff to update the agency’s policy-and-procedure manual; changes could come to the committee for input. She asked whether there were questions; the committee had none.
Ending: Walters said she will continue new-director training and return with the employee-survey results, an organization chart and a 2025 contract-monitoring report at the next meeting.
