Fall Child Support Conference Highlights

The Michigan Family Support Council (MFSC) put on another great conference October 4 – 6, 2017. This year there were 470 registered conference attendees from all across the state. The keynote speaker Linda Larsen kicked off the conference with motivational tips about fostering positivity like dedicating time each morning to reflect on gratitude. Office of Child Support Director Erin Frisch and Friend of the Court Bureau Director Steve Capps jointly presented the program’s new strategic plan at the closing of the conference, followed by a brief message from Scott Lekan, Commissioner of the federal Office of Child Support Enforcement.

Steve Capps (left) and Erin Frisch (right) present the new strategic plan.

The silent auction raised approximately $5,000 this year. This year’s recipient is the nonprofit organization, Ele’s Place, a healing center for grieving children and teens.

If you were not able to attend the conference and wonder what you might have missed, there is still an opportunity to learn from the breakout sessions. You can access available materials from sessions online, including handouts and presentation files. If you do not already have a member account with MFSC, you will need to first request login credentials using the instructions on the web page.

Also, dates have just been announced for next year’s MFSC Fall Conference: Wednesday, October 17 – Friday, October 19, 2018. Note the conference’s location change to Boyne Mountain in 2018. MFSC provides e-mail notifications for further updates such as when 2018 conference registration opens.

Perhaps the most highly-anticipated portion of the conference was when service awards were presented by Sheila Waldrop, president of MFSC, on Wednesday, October 4, to eight outstanding child support professionals from FOC offices, Prosecuting Attorney offices, the Office of Child Support, and the State Court Administrative Office. The Michigan Family Support Council accepts nominations for service awards throughout the year. This is one way to provide recognition for hard-working child support professionals.

Learn about each of this year’s honorees from excerpts of the nomination text.

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

 Lisa Robinson, Document Management Supervisor, Wayne County Friend of the Court

Sheila Waldrop (left) presents award to Lisa Robinson (right).

Lisa Robinson has been a public servant for nearly 30 years, dedicating her entire career to benefiting others. She is hailed as strong, loving, and patient. To Lisa, family and relationships with others mean everything; she has supported many people, not only in her personal life but in the child support program.

Lisa has a deep understanding of the turmoil that a family can face and knows the value of listening and letting people be heard. She is passionate about always doing the right thing and doing her best in every endeavor.

She has been a leader in the Wayne County FOC office, transitioning through the many stages of MiCSES and changes at the helm with her quiet demeanor and constancy. Lisa was described as “not a woman of many words, but deeds.”

Beyond her daily office responsibilities, Lisa has also been a dependable, capable, and compassionate leader for the MFSC. Each year she works tirelessly to ensure that the fall conference goes off without a hitch, often sending out emails late at night, on weekends, or at the crack of dawn.

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Suzy Crittenden, FOCA Liaison, Friend of the Court Bureau

Sheila Waldrop (left) and Suzy Crittenden (right).

Suzy Crittenden has been with the child support program for over 14 years. She has been described as a "pitbull" in getting improvements to the MiCSES case management system. She regularly exhibits compassion, patience, diligence, and dedication.

Suzy is a firm believer in collaboration and always seeks input to resolve issues. She has specialized in resolving MiCSES problems, accepting calls and emails and attending countless meetings on how to fix something in the system while keeping in mind the impact it could have on other partners.

OFFICE OF CHILD SUPPORT AWARD

Ellen Wood, PEP Analyst, Office of Child Support

Sheila Waldrop (left) and Ellen Wood (right).

Ellen Wood is described as passionate, creative, patient, and meticulous. She has shown a commitment to this program by educating IV-D and non-IV-D-staff, living the partnership mentality, and promoting the positive effects of inclusion.

Ellen has spearheaded the creation of new literature, webinars, and publications. She continuously answers questions and works diligently to increase our paternity establishment percentage (PEP) rate and resolve CPR access issues. Michigan is lucky to have someone who has dedicated so much time and talent to the DADvantage campaign, spending time visiting hospitals and offices to educate staff on how to achieve early paternity establishment. 

OFFICE OF CHILD SUPPORT FIELD STAFF AWARD

Patty Buskirk, Child Support Specialist Manager, Office of Child Support

Sheila Waldrop (left) and Patty Buskirk (right).

Patty Buskirk has worked in the child support program for 23 years, supporting its goals through many transitions over the years. She has been open and willing to learn and lead, being calm and positive while identifying problems and researching solutions. 

Patty is dependable, dedicated, and persistent. She not only supports staff in the world of work, but in their personal lives as well. She is compassionate, rational, loving, and kind.  She demonstrates by doing and leaves no one in doubt as to her commitment to her work and staff.

Patti has served on too many JADS, WITS, Workgroups and UAT's to count. She believes in the power of knowledge and works to be a resource for all. She addresses program needs by creating policy and protocol as a tool for others to guide them in their success. 

PROSECUTING ATTORNEY SUPERVISOR AWARD

Andrew Albrant, Assistant Prosecutor, Genesee County Prosecuting Attorney

Sheila Waldrop (left) and Andrew Albrant (right).

Andrew Albrant has been an Assistant Prosecutor for over 15 years in the child support division and has dedicated his career to the child support program.

Some of the key components of his success are his legal knowledge, attention to detail, and adherence to the law.

Andrew constantly seeks out any changes in the law and helps keep the court, the FOC, and other staff aware of new developments. He has been a long time participant and leader in the child support program as a contributor to many JADs, WITs, and workgroups.

Andrew has taken on special projects and pilot programs for the state and is dedicated and determined to do his best at everything.

PROSECUTING ATTORNEY STAFF AWARD

Claudia Concienne, Administrative Aide, Livingston County Prosecuting Attorney

Sheila Waldrop (left) and Claudia Concienne (right).

Claudia Concienne has been a part of the child support program since 2002. She has weathered staff reductions and increases in work without complaint.  She has shown a true dedication to her office and the program despite necessary absences, always connecting with the office to ensure that the work was getting done, that questions were answered and assurances were given.

Claudia is intelligent, dedicated, and passionate. She manages difficult client dynamics with patience, compassion, and courtesy. She can handle any type of case, draft pleadings, and comply with court rules and unique case nuances.

Claudia helped elevate the staff's performance in the area of service of process by 40% in a single year and helped to increase the county PEP rate to 99%.

FRIEND OF THE COURT SUPERVISOR AWARD

Teresa Meyer, Assistant Friend of the Court, Isabella County

Teresa Meyer

Teresa Meyer has been with the child support program since 1981 - 37 years! She essentially grew up with the program, from her early days filing papers and answering phone calls, to her current position job there is to do in an FOC office.

Every day Teresa demonstrates an understanding of a person's individual needs, whether that person is a client or a staff member. She is able to help maintain a balance for everyone around her through her caring and compassionate nature.

Teresa arrives at work early and stays late and never seems to take a lunch break.  She is always available to staff and graciously accepts new ideas and works on ways to implement them. 

FRIEND OF THE COURT STAFF AWARD

Tori Petway, Case Management Assistant, Oakland County Friend of the Court

Sheila Waldrop (left) and Tori Petway (right).

Tori Petway is another lifetime devotee of the child support program, having given 31 years thus far of dedicated service to her office and the state.

She is known for her outstanding customer service and is always prepared to "handle" a touchy customer who often actually needed help understanding something. Tori always goes the extra step to make sure a customer is aware of his or her rights and responsibilities.  She shows unlimited patience and respect to the customers. 

Tori is always upbeat and positive - which is contagious and lifts the office morale. Often she can be found singing to herself while working at her computer. Another fun dynamic of Tori is her attention to personal flare and professional appearance; she sets a standard for others and completely rocks her wardrobe!