Solano County proclaims August Child Support Awareness Month; county agencies distribute 200 backpacks to students

The Solano County Board of Supervisors on Wednesday adopted a resolution recognizing August 2025 as Child Support Awareness Month and marked the county Department of Child Support Services’ annual backpack drive, which assembled 200 backpacks for students ahead of the school year.

County officials said the backpacks were stocked with basic school supplies and distributed to local support programs. “This year we’re happy to announce we stuffed 200 backpacks filled with school supplies,” Leanne Peck of the Department of Child Support Services told the board. She said 150 backpacks were delivered to the Solano County Office of Education (SCOE) for Foster and Homeless Youth Services and 50 were provided to the Solano Family Justice Center for families the center serves.

The resolution, adopted by a 5-0 vote, recognized the work of department staff and community partners that assist parents and families. Peck credited partner organizations including the North Bay Teachers Resource Center and singled out Renita Cogburn, a lead worker in the department who coordinated the annual stuffing event.

Speakers from partner organizations described how the backpacks are used. Akan Walker, program coordinator and educational liaison for the Solano County Office of Education, said nearly 2,000 students across the county experience housing insecurity and that the backpacks help students start the school year prepared. “It changes you as a person, and it also instills hope in that family,” Walker said.

Representatives from the Solano Family Justice Center said the center will hand backpacks directly to families who visit the center, and that donated clothing and shoes will also be routed to families in need. The department said the backpacks included common supplies such as pencils, crayons, folders, glue sticks, scissors and rulers.

The board’s formal action and the distribution plan were presented as countywide outreach rather than a regulatory or budgetary measure; no budget vote or spending detail was included on the record beyond the staffing and partner acknowledgements.

The board adopted the Child Support Awareness Month resolution unanimously. Staff and nonprofit partners said they plan to continue the backpack drive in future years as part of ongoing outreach to foster youth, families using the Family Justice Center and other students facing housing-related challenges.