Governing for Results 13 - Washington State Digital Archives

Employment Security Department;
Department of Social and Health Services
Child Support Coalition Channels Defendants into Jobs!
The WorkSource Cowlitz/Wahkiakum East noticed it was not receiving many job
search referrals for defendants with delinquent child support payments.
Discussions with representatives of the county’s Superior Court and Department
of Health and Social Services’ (DSHS’s) Division of Child Support identified a
need to establish a process to network unemployed defendants with WorkSource
for placement into jobs. The alternative was for the defendants to be sentenced
to jail time—a losing proposition for them, their children, and the taxpayers.
Results
★ Reduces welfare payments by an average of $3,600 annually per defendant.
★ Increases repayment of past-due child support by an average of $310 per
month per defendant.
★ Reduces court costs by an average of $1,200 per defendant.
★ Reduces jail time costs by an average of $210 per defendant.
★ Increases taxes collected by approximately $41,200 annually per defendant.
Team Name: Cowlitz Child Support Coalition
Team Members: ESD: June Trusty, Steve Martin; Cowlitz County Superior
Court: Barbara Vining, Elaine Coats; DSHS: Timothy Hammond
CONTACT: June Trusty, (360) 578-4222
17