11

EEarly arly IIntervention ntervention PProjectsrojectsLos Angeles CountyLos Angeles County

Steven J. Golightly, DirectorSteven J. Golightly, Director

Lisa M. Garrett, Chief DeputyLisa M. Garrett, Chief Deputy

22

PROJECT OVERVIEWPROJECT OVERVIEW

ObjectiveObjective Strategies Strategies Required resourcesRequired resources ProcessProcess OutcomesOutcomes Next StepsNext Steps

33

AAIM IM PPILOT ILOT PPROJECTROJECTAssess, Improve & MonitorAssess, Improve & Monitor

PALMDALE DIVISIONPALMDALE DIVISION

PILOT LOCATION

Palmdale Division

24,000 cases63 Staff members

26 Case workers17 clerical staff

55

OBJECTIVESOBJECTIVES Pre-judgment:Pre-judgment:

Obtain an accurate child support Obtain an accurate child support order by engaging the NCP in the order by engaging the NCP in the establishment process establishment process

Reduce the number of default Reduce the number of default judgmentsjudgments

Post judgment:Post judgment: Facilitate regular and timely Facilitate regular and timely

paymentspayments Reduce the accrual of arrearagesReduce the accrual of arrearages

66

PRE-JUDGMENTPRE-JUDGMENT STRATEGY 1STRATEGY 1

EEarly Contactarly Contact

Call Center direct call routing Call Center direct call routing to assigned Palmdale case to assigned Palmdale case workerworker

Early intervention phone call Early intervention phone call to the NCP as early as to the NCP as early as possible after summons and possible after summons and complaint is served, and complaint is served, and before default enteredbefore default entered

77

PRE-JUDGMENTPRE-JUDGMENTSTRATEGY 2STRATEGY 2

Frequent & Continuing ContactFrequent & Continuing Contact Directed efforts to engage dialog Directed efforts to engage dialog

with the NCP via telephone with the NCP via telephone contacts, letters and in-office visits: contacts, letters and in-office visits: Each communication explains: Each communication explains:

Paternity/support processPaternity/support process Rights to free genetic testingRights to free genetic testing Importance of accurate income Importance of accurate income

reportingreporting I&E workshops offered by CSSDI&E workshops offered by CSSD In-office stipulation processIn-office stipulation process

88

PRE-JUDGMENTPRE-JUDGMENTSTRATEGY 3STRATEGY 3

Decisive ContactDecisive Contact

Build relationship and trust Build relationship and trust by designating a specific by designating a specific worker to handle caseworker to handle case

Seize every opportunity to Seize every opportunity to appropriately stipulate to appropriately stipulate to paternity and supportpaternity and support

99

RESOURCESRESOURCES

Staffing:Staffing:Caseworkers Caseworkers 2424Clerical staff Clerical staff 1 1

MaterialsMaterialsLocate toolsLocate toolsMailingsMailingsCase assignment matrixCase assignment matrix

1010

PRELIMINARY OUTCOMESPRELIMINARY OUTCOMES Pre-pilot BaselinePre-pilot Baseline

Between Dec. 2007 – Jul. 2008 Between Dec. 2007 – Jul. 2008 Palmdale averaged 12.5 Palmdale averaged 12.5 stipulated judgments per month.stipulated judgments per month.

Post-pilot ImplementationPost-pilot Implementation Between Aug. 2008 – Nov.2008 Between Aug. 2008 – Nov.2008

Palmdale averaged 23.3 (86%) Palmdale averaged 23.3 (86%) stipulated judgments per monthstipulated judgments per month

With post-CSE conversion period With post-CSE conversion period added (Aug. 2008 – Feb. 2009), added (Aug. 2008 – Feb. 2009), the average number of stipulated the average number of stipulated judgments was 17.7 (41%)judgments was 17.7 (41%)

1111

POST JUDGMENTPOST JUDGMENT STRATEGY 1STRATEGY 1

Case OwnershipCase Ownership Paradigm shift from case worker Paradigm shift from case worker

specialization to full case ownership and specialization to full case ownership and accountabilityaccountability

Each CSOEach CSO::assigned a caseload assigned a caseload required to conduct all interviews and required to conduct all interviews and

case management duties associated case management duties associated with the casewith the case

Staff AttorneysStaff Attorneys partnered with case management partnered with case management

teams teams Assigned top 120 arrears cases to Assigned top 120 arrears cases to

establish payment plans and obtain establish payment plans and obtain payments on arrearspayments on arrears

POST JUDGMENTPOST JUDGMENT STRATEGY 2STRATEGY 2

Case SegmentationCases are segmented based on

paying status and customized enforcement

Pay Status (90-day or 12-month cycle):

Sometimes Pay Never Pay Always Pay

Database built to monitor and track progress

1313

ENCINO and CRIMINAL ENCINO and CRIMINAL PROSECUTION PROSECUTION

COLLABORATIVE PILOTCOLLABORATIVE PILOT

1414

OBJECTIVEOBJECTIVE

Reduce account delinquencyReduce account delinquency Increase the number of cases in Increase the number of cases in

which the NCP makes a which the NCP makes a payment towards arrearspayment towards arrears

Identify cases eligible for a Identify cases eligible for a modification, closure, COAP, or modification, closure, COAP, or other appropriate action other appropriate action

Avoid criminal prosecution Avoid criminal prosecution process process

1515

STRATEGY 1STRATEGY 1THE LETTERTHE LETTER

Developed and mailed “stern Developed and mailed “stern warning letter” to NCPs:warning letter” to NCPs:

Warned that failure to abide by Warned that failure to abide by court order may result in contempt court order may result in contempt filing, fine and/or jail time;filing, fine and/or jail time;

Set court appointment to discuss Set court appointment to discuss case and payments; andcase and payments; and

Advised to “be prepared to make a Advised to “be prepared to make a payment”payment”

1616

STRATEGY 2STRATEGY 2 Refer Where AppropriateRefer Where Appropriate

During court appointment, case During court appointment, case is reviewed for appropriate is reviewed for appropriate action including modification, action including modification, closure, COAP, etc…closure, COAP, etc…

Collaboration with the Family Collaboration with the Family Law Facilitator to expedite the Law Facilitator to expedite the filing of civil modificationsfiling of civil modifications

1717

STRATEGY 3 STRATEGY 3 Monitor and Take ActionMonitor and Take Action

Monitor payment agreements for Monitor payment agreements for ongoing complianceongoing compliance

Assess impact of modifications Assess impact of modifications and case closings on the and case closings on the “denominator” “denominator”

Review for referral to CPD if:Review for referral to CPD if: NCP failed to appear for interviewNCP failed to appear for interview NCP fails to comply with payment NCP fails to comply with payment

agreementagreement

1818

STRATEGY 3 STRATEGY 3 Monitor and Take ActionMonitor and Take Action

Supervising case worker Supervising case worker identifies all cases in which identifies all cases in which NCPs failed to keep NCPs failed to keep appointmentsappointments

Case workers review and work Case workers review and work up files for contempt referral to up files for contempt referral to the Criminal Prosecution the Criminal Prosecution DivisionDivision

1919

RESOURCES RESOURCES

ARS ListsARS Lists Developed ARS-list of cases with Developed ARS-list of cases with

no payment for at least 3 no payment for at least 3 consecutive months and NCP living consecutive months and NCP living in L.A. Countyin L.A. County

Narrowed list to eliminate cases Narrowed list to eliminate cases transferred in CSE to other transferred in CSE to other divisions or where NCP shown to divisions or where NCP shown to be aided (GR, SSI, etc.) be aided (GR, SSI, etc.)

2020

RESOURCESRESOURCES Pilot StaffPilot Staff

1 supervisor1 supervisor Oversees mailing of letters; Oversees mailing of letters;

develops/maintains logs; and develops/maintains logs; and reviews criminal referralsreviews criminal referrals

6 case workers to vet lists6 case workers to vet lists 3 civil attorneys (each court day) 3 civil attorneys (each court day)

to conduct court interviewsto conduct court interviews 3 case workers to monitor cases 3 case workers to monitor cases

for post-interview compliance for post-interview compliance and possible criminal referral and possible criminal referral

2121

PRELIMINARY OUTCOMESPRELIMINARY OUTCOMES

As of Friday, March 6:As of Friday, March 6: 140 interviews scheduled;140 interviews scheduled; 40 interviews kept (28.6% of 140);40 interviews kept (28.6% of 140); 22 payments* made (55% of 40);22 payments* made (55% of 40); 24 modification referrals (60% of 40).24 modification referrals (60% of 40).

**Payments at court totaled $5,045, Payments at court totaled $5,045, ranging from $5 up to $1,000; ranging from $5 up to $1,000;

average payment - $229average payment - $229

2222

OUTCOMES (cont’d)OUTCOMES (cont’d)

3 cases identified for closing:3 cases identified for closing: 2 at CP request (prompted by 2 at CP request (prompted by

invitation letter to NCP);invitation letter to NCP); 1 based on attorney review of 1 based on attorney review of

information in file and on CSE.information in file and on CSE.

2 new employers identified2 new employers identified

2323

Success in Early InterventionSuccess in Early Intervention

““Success does not come to Success does not come to those who wait…and it does not those who wait…and it does not wait for anyone to come to it.”wait for anyone to come to it.”

Unknown AuthorUnknown Author