2009 Alabama Child Support Association Conference
The ACSA Training Conference was held October 27th – 30th in Orange Beach, Alabama. The "Blazing New Trails" theme was seen throughout. The theme was apparent each day from paisley or plaid neckerchiefs and shirts to cowboy hats and boots. Many staff members participated, from western attire to chuck wagon lunches. DHR staff used the full 100 slots allocated plus an additional 79 slots paid for through alternate means from the county. This year’s conference focused on working together and creating partnerships.
An added bonus in attendance at this conference was the increased attendance by County Directors. The County Director’s conference was held in conjunction with the Child Support Conference thus allowing the directors additional exposure to Child Support information. The directors attended their own training and information sessions as well as ACSA sessions. In keeping up with technology the county directors were each provided training manuals on a CD. This is both progressive and cost effective.
Following the spirit of cooperation and team building there was a session presented by the Federal Office of Child Support Enforcement on Hispanic Outreach Initiatives. There was also a session on District Attorney and DHR collaborating to build child support task forces. Outstanding examples of how collaborative efforts can enhance a child support program were presented by Judge Kristin Ruth with "Problem Solving in CS Court" and Sheriff Shavers activity in creating the Cherokee County Work Release Program.
Partnering with the sessions on cooperation were additional training sessions on "Prisoner Re-entry Initiatives". There was a very innovative training session on "Managing Arrears" presented in a game show format. The two opposing teams answered questions on policy and case management activity. Based on the audience response it was educational as well as entertaining.
The theme continued throughout the conference including at the awards banquet where each table’s hurricane lamp was dressed in a bandana and raffia tie. The banquet is always greatly anticipated and well attended. Everyone wants to see who is recognized. There are CSED County Performance Awards presented based on county size as well as ten Association Awards for individuals. The County Category Awards are as follows:
County category is determined by caseload size at the beginning of the fiscal year.
|
Category 1 |
0 to 1710 |
|
Category 2 |
1711 through 3421 |
|
Category 3 |
3422 and above |
The 2009 Performance awards for Increase in Paternity Establishment are:
Category 1 – Lamar County
Category 2 – Elmore County
Category 3 – Madison County
The 2009 Performance awards for Increase in Order Establishment are:
Category 1 – Bibb County
Category 2 – Coffee County
Category 3 – Dallas County
The 2009 Performance awards for Increase in Current Support Collected are:
Category 1 – Crenshaw County
Category 2 – Pike County
Category 3 – Dale County
The 2009 Performance awards for Increase in Increase in Arrears Payments Collected are:
Category 1 – Crenshaw County
Category 2 – St. Clair County
Category 3 – Montgomery County
The 2009 Performance awards for Increase in Total Collections are:
Category 1 – Barbour County
Category 2 – Elmore County
Category 3 – Mobile County
The Division Directors Award for Superior Overall Performance by a County Child Support Program was Washington County. The county’s name will be permanently added to the ACSA banner hung in the main Conference Hall each year.
The recipients’ of the 2009 ACSA Award are selected from written nominations submitted by coworkers and partners. Just to name a few, this year Jane Wilson of Lauderdale County won Supervisor of the Year for a Small County and Gail Fitch of Sumter County won the David Curtis Worker of the Year Award. The complete list of winners includes:
David Curtis Child Support Worker of the Year – Small County
Gail M. Fitch/Sumter County
Child Support Supervisor of the Year – Small County
Jane Wilson/Lauderdale County
Child Support Supervisor of the Year – Large County
Blaine Gilley/Madison County
DA Administrative Assistant of the Year-
Sandie Walker/Dallas County
DHR Administrative Assistant of the Year
Christine Smith/DeKalb County
Gordon F. Bailey, Attorney of the Year
Robert McWhorter/Morgan County
Child Support Coordinator of the Year
Jeanna Ragsdale/Fifth Judicial Circuit of Alabama
Robert C. Roseberry Judge of the Year
Robert H. Turner, Jr./Dallas County
John Hulet Lifetime Achievement Award
Janet Hunter/Henry County
Child Support Program Advocate Award
Sheriff Mike Blakely and the entire Sheriff’s Department of Limestone Co.
The ACSA awards were developed to recognize individuals for their personal efforts while the CSED Performance awards recognize the efforts of the County as a whole.
The conference typically ends on Friday with motivational speakers and an entertaining skit performed. This year continued the tradition. The skit performed by DHR and District Attorney staff from across the State entitled "Outlaws and Scoundrels" included characters from the Wild West like Calamity Jane, Miss Kitty and Marshall Dillon. There was a special performance of a comical interpretation of Patsy Cline’s "She’s Got You".
In the closing session of the conference, Division Director Faye Nelson thanked the staff and our partners for their hard work and gave words of encouragement for the hard work yet to come. This conference can go on record as another success. We look forward to seeing ya’ll next year.
Happy Trails…