Meade County continues to rank high in state’s child support collections By KAREN KENNEDY Meade County’s Child Support Office must be doing something right. Whatever it is, the office needs to keep doing it because its success numbers continue to rise. The Messenger took a look at Meade County’s numbers back in October 2005. They were good then – dramatically improved over previous years – but overall they are even better now. The March 2006 numbers indicate that out of 120 counties in the commonwealth of Kentucky, Meade County’s Child Support Office overall ranks #21 in the state. As contracting attorney for child support and paternity matters, County Attorney Darren Sipes is responsible for ensuring the children of Meade County receive the child support they are by law entitled to receive. “Many people hold the misconception that our office represents the custodial parent,” said Sipes. “However, our purpose is twofold. We really represent the best interest of the child. At the same time – and just as important – our job is to alleviate the financial burdens of taxpayers. It’s not the taxpayers who should pay for children but the parent. Our job is to get the responsible parent to pay.” Joyce Bratcher, supervisor of Meade County’s Child Support Office since 2003, brought a lot of experience with her when she came to work for Meade County. Bratcher was previously employed by a private attorney in Hardin County, worked for six years for the county attorney in Hardin County, and was then child support regional manager for the Cabinet for Health and Family Services before coming to the Meade County Attorney’s Office in February 2003. “I’ve worked on both the administrative and judicial sides of child support,” said Bratcher, “and because of my previous experience I know child support inside and out.” Working along with Bratcher in the child support office on Fairway Drive are Bridget Love (full-time), Angie Decker (full-time), Kristy Barr (employed during college breaks), and Kathy Sipes (part-time). Years ago, child support collection offices made a percentage off the amount of money they collected. However, that incentive program ended in the early 1990s. Despite rumors to the contrary, Sipes has never received a percentage of child support that his office has collected. Instead, he is paid an hourly rate by the state. Kentucky Revised Statutes does not mandate child support collection to be a duty of the county attorney. Kentucky’s Cabinet for Health and Family Services generally approaches county attorneys first and contracts their services for child support collection. If an arrangement with the county attorney cannot be agreed upon, said Sipes, the Cabinet then looks elsewhere. There is no one set process when it comes to child support. Sometimes child support comes about as a result of a divorce. Other times the parents are married. In other cases, there is a paternity dispute. Initial arrangements between custodial and non-custodial parents may have been made through private attorneys or simply between the parents themselves. Out-of-state child support is a whole other animal, with Meade County dependent upon the willingness of the other state to work with them. “When a custodial parent signs up for our services,” said Bratcher, “he or she gives up the right to be the payee. This means that child support is paid to the Cabinet for Health and Family Services by the noncustodial parent. In turn, the Cabinet then pays the custodial parent. We make these arrangements here in our office.” Meade County’s Child Support Office often tries to go the “agreed order” route rather than taking the matter into the courtroom. An agreed order is a legal arrangement between the child support office and the non-custodial parent. Meade County averages about 100 agreed orders every year. Agreed orders, said Sipes, prevent unnecessary use of court resources, allow the judicial system to operate more efficiently, permit judges to move the populated court dockets along quicker, and most importantly, get the money to children quicker. Of course, if the Cabinet does not receive payment from the noncustodial parent, this means the custodial parent doesn’t get paid. Flagrant nonsupport generally means an individual is $1,000 behind in child support. Nonpayment could result in a Class D felony, with the individual potentially serving from one to five years in prison. This only happens when it can be proven that someone was capable of paying child support but willfully and purposely refused to pay. “We try to work with the non-custodial parent,” said Bratcher. “For example, if someone breaks a leg and can’t work, then you need to work with that person.” She also noted that there are often two sides to a story when it comes to child support disputes. Sipes stated that he listens to both sides of child support disputes and attempts to arrange a fair outcome, being ever mindful that his number one concern is the best interest of the child. “Parents I deal with occasionally have a lot of spite against one another and attempt to use child support as a way of getting back at one another. My staff and I don’t allow ourselves to get caught up in that nonsense,” said Sipes. “We look out for the children, who didn’t ask to be in the middle of their parent’s situation. Kids deserve a clean home to live in, a bed to sleep in, clothes, sufficient food, and an environment where they can be happy. My staff and I try everyday to help kids get those things they deserve.” Of course, not everything goes smoothly all the time. “People who don’t pay child support don’t get too many chances. We don’t bluff in this office. Sometimes you have to make believers out of people,” said Bratcher. “A line is drawn in the sand and if it is crossed, uncooperative parents can expect unpleasant consequences in court,” said Sipes. Still, Sipes, Bratcher, and the rest of the office staff try hard to work with all parties involved for a good end result. “If someone is behind on payments and we can get that person to pay an extra $20 per month until he or she gets caught up in payments, that makes a lot more sense than putting someone in jail and getting nothing,” said Sipes. “The goal is to get the money – for both the child and the taxpayer – and we keep our eye on that goal. That’s what has allowed this office to achieve the numbers that it has.” How Meade County Ranks March October March Child support establishments (2003) #56 (2005)#32 (2006)#19 Click Here to Go Back
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