July/August 2023

Customer Service

It is unlikely Jessica Figueroa set out to attract attention when she was helping a custodial parent on a case shared with Nebraska, but that is exactly what happened!


Jessica is a newly promoted Intergovernmental Case Manager in the Council Bluffs office. She has been with CSS for five and a half years. Jessica began her career with Child Support in 2017 as a Typist Advanced and was promoted to Clerk Specialist in 2020. As a Clerk Specialist she began working with the intergovernmental process with outgoing establishment and modification areas. 


Betty Rubin, Douglas County Intergovernmental Supervisor for Nebraska Child Support, sent a shout out recognizing Jessica’s “outstanding customer service to her primary customer (Custodial Parent) and our office.” Betty relayed her appreciation and acknowledged Jessica’s efforts to Iowa CSS Intergovernmental Policy.


Betty went on to say Jessica had contacted her earlier that morning asking what needed to happen to move a case forward in Douglas County court with a pending modification. A balance computation was needed for both the child support and medical support obligations, submission of a Transmittal #2 with an additional statement requested by the Douglas County court referee. Jessica provided all needed computations and documents to move this case forward.


“Thank you, Jessica, you really delivered on this. Thank you!” – Betty Rubin

New Hires

  • Michelle Cetanyan, Davenport
  • Stephanie Baker, Davenport
  • Katina Streeper, Des Moines
  • Jamie Kearney, Cedar Rapids
  • Steven Vorsten, Pleasant Hill
  • Holli Piagentini, Des Moines
  • Michele Snyder, CSC
  • Stephanie Shaw, Clinton
  • Brooke Thompson, AG in Ankeny
  • Nagy Makar, CSC
  • Thomas Collins, AG in Des Moines
  • Lynette James, Mason City

ISU Insights: PIAL Curriculum Updates


PIAL has been busy updating and improving their curriculum this summer. They'll release each new module as it is finished. At the beginning of the school year, they will only be offering the Healthy Relationships module and the 90-minute teen dating violence awareness program ADMYRE  (Advocating for My Relationships) in schools. These two topics go hand-in-hand, and PIAL is recommending schools use them in tandem. As new modules are released, they will be made available for schools to request.


Get a sneak peek at our video for ADMYRE and Healthy Relationships by clicking the video above or the button below!

Watch
CWRTP has a new website. Check it out by clicking here!

Training

Creating Thinking: Transforming the Journey From Blank Page to Your Unique Story

a presentation by Jenny Parker

Earlier this month, Jenny Parker gave an invigorating presentation about creativity to the ISU-Iowa Child Support contract team. Now you can be inspired, too! Click the link to watch the roughly forty-minute presentation. The time will fly!

Watch Presentation

Staff Highlight: Becca Schmidt

 At Child Support Services, Becca Schmidt thrives on learning new things. Her knowledge of resources available to our customers allows her to provide comprehensive service from our agency. She speaks “real talk” to her customers, and they are appreciative of her no-nonsense approach. Becca treats all customers with respect and dignity regardless of their station in life.

Read More!

Staff Anniversaries



5 Years:

  • Rebecca Rome, Davenport

15 Years:

  • Mackenzie Greene, Burlington
  • Jenny Schulz, Davenport
  • Sherri Martin, Cedar Rapids
  • Kara Culpepper, Davenport
  • Tamar McCunniff, EPICS

20 Years:

  • Richelle Cook, Burlington

25 Years:

  • Teresa Craft, Creston
  • Melissa Gross, Davenport

30 Years:

  • Ruth Blanchard, Central Office

35 Years:

  • Kathleen Kavanaugh, Davenport


Policy Corner:

 

In accordance with House File 2565, signed by Governor Reynolds in 2020, the State of Iowa Offset Program will be administered by the Iowa Department of Revenue (IDR) instead of the Department of Administrative Services (DAS) effective November 13, 2023. Central office staff is busy analyzing the multitude of procedural, system, and contract changes needed for a successful transition. Additional information will be shared as soon as it is available for sharing. 

 


Outreach:

In January 2023, a pilot project was started for Child Support Services (CSS) with collaboration between Central Office and the field to review rejected Iowa Voluntary Paternity Affidavits (VPA) from the Bureau of Health Statistics (BHS). 

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Is someone you work with not receiving In the Know? Send them this email or the link below so they can add their HHS email address to our list!

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Submit comments or questions

https://hhs.iowa.gov/child-support