by Lynn Johnson, Human Services Director
comments open from August 11 until August 30

Being young is a magical time. The world is new with endless possibilities and a child’s imagination takes them on adventures where anything is possible. We should all experience this wonderful time in life, free of responsibility and worry. As adults, it becomes our duty to provide for our children. We make every effort to create a loving and supportive environment. However, in some circumstances, families lose the ability to provide and children often experience the difficulties. Since children cannot stand up for themselves, adults must work for them. That is what we do here at the Jefferson County Department of Human Services.

One of our programs is Child Support Services and August is National Child Support Month. For Jefferson County, it’s a time of opportunity to reach out to more citizens in need. The mission of the program is to assure that all children receive financial and medical support from each parent. Locating each parent, establishing paternity and support obligations, and enforcing those obligations are the focus. We partner with parents to meet the financial and emotional needs of children. The ultimate goal is to work for the benefit of children and to make sure that their childhood is a magical time, like it should be.

This month, Child Support Services is raising awareness about the importance of child support, how it works, and available resources. We are focusing on establishing new paternities, launching new and modified orders, assisting dads to get the resources they need to fully support their children, making phone calls and holding mediations to solve child support issues. The Child Support Services Team wants to meet with parents who need additional information on how to pay child support as well as parents who need additional information about available services.

Presently, with a staff of fifty and an average of five volunteers/interns at any time, about twelve thousand families have active cases. Recent accomplishments include 142 paternities established and almost 600 new child support/medical support orders established during the last six months. Almost $16,000,000 in child support payments has been collected during the same time period. These great accomplishments will only continue.

Please come and visit us. Child Support Services is located in the Laramie Building at 3500 Illinois Street, Suite 1300, Golden. We are open Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. For questions please call 303-271-4300.