By Nikki Withrow, Management Analyst, Friend of the Court Bureau (FOCB)
Michigan is often considered the birthplace of child support in the United States. While the federal government first became involved in child support in the 1950s, leading to budding child support programs in other states, Michigan’s program began in 1919 without federal support. From 1950 to 2000, Michigan served as a model for federal legislation and was recognized as a leader among the states. As other states began to adopt federal requirements that often had first been implemented in Michigan, and hard economic times forced Michigan to focus internally, leaders in other states began to emerge. While innovation in Michigan continued, it was often unknown outside the state.
Happily, in 2020 and 2021, Michigan has once again been able to share its child support expertise on a national level by serving on 13 national committees and delivering 21 national trainings.
In the past two years, Michigan partners served on eight National Child Support Enforcement Association (NCSEA) committees. Erin Frisch (Michigan’s Title IV-D Director) serves as the NCSEA 2020-21 Executive Committee Secretary, on the Policy and Government Relations Committee, and on a committee leading the NCSEA Board of Directors through strategic planning. She also served as the 2021 Policy Forum Planning Committee Co-Chair. Paul Gehm (FOCB Management Analyst) served on the NCSEA 2021 Policy Forum Planning Committee, and he continues to serve on the Research Subcommittee and as Co-Chair of the Emerging Issues Subcommittee. Amy Lindholm (FOCB Management Analyst) serves on NCSEA’s Public Relations Committee. Liz West (FOCB Management Analyst) serves on NCSEA’s WebTalk Committee. These nationally-prominent roles allow Michigan to have a voice in future federal initiatives and funding opportunities.
There are also two national regional child support organizations: the Western Intergovermental Child Support Engagement Council (WICSEC) is west of the Mississippi River, and the Eastern Regional Interstate Child Support Association (ERICSA) is east of the Mississippi River. Each has a national role in training and developing national policy. In 2020 and 2021, Michigan partners served on five ERICSA committees. Liz West serves on ERICSA’s Policy and Legislation Committee, Technology Committee, Intergovernmental Committee, and Conference Planning Committee. Paul Gehm serves on ERICSA’s Policy and Legislation Committee. Pam Sala (former Deputy Director, Oakland County FOC) served on the 2021 Conference Planning Committee and is a member of the Honorary Board of Directors.
Being involved in ERICSA was a highlight of Pam Sala’s child support career. She was able to meet numerous child support professionals from around the country, which enabled her to reach out with questions and issues on interstate cases. Since ERICSA provides responses to proposed legislation, she was able to shape the direction of the child support program on a national level.
In addition to lending Michigan’s voice to national policy issues, state and local Michigan child support professionals have presented or facilitated 11 NCSEA trainings in the past two years.
NCSEA’s 2021 Policy Forum focused on equity, diversity, and inclusion. Zenell Brown (Executive Court Administrator, Third Circuit Court) and Erin Frisch presented two separate plenaries on these topics, and Paul Gehm facilitated a third plenary. At NCSEA’s 2020 Policy Forum, Paul Gehm facilitated Steve Capps’s (FOCB Director) presentation on the 2017 changes to the federal child support regulations.
NCSEA WebTalks are virtual presentations held throughout the year. Michael Adrian (Office of Child Support [OCS] Program Development Division [PDD] Director) presented on developing equitable policy and on the pros and cons of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Carol Montavon Bealor (Director, Cass County FOC) presented on the importance of office culture. Zenell Brown presented on diversity and inclusion. With the world experiencing the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Ian Broughton (OCS Planning, Evaluation, and Analysis Section Manager), Zenell Brown, and Erin Frisch participated in three separate presentations on the various challenges of providing vital child support and court services during a pandemic.
In 2020 and 2021, Michigan child support partners also presented or facilitated eight ERICSA trainings. At ERICSA’s 2021 Annual Conference, Liz West facilitated Bill Bartels (FOCB Management Analyst) and Amy Rebideaux’s (Muskegon County Family Court Staff Attorney) presentation on the legislative and policy changes regarding incarcerated and incapacitated payers. Steve Capps and Liz West presented on communication in a remote world. Liz West also facilitated Amy Rebideaux and Jason Walker’s (Muskegon County Family Court Family Division Supervisor) presentation on child support and the eviction/landlord tenant partnership. Kate Weaver (Referee, Oakland County FOC) presented on conducting virtual hearings, Erin Frisch delivered a plenary session, and Pam Sala presented on creating a personal health and wellness toolkit. At ERICSA’s 2020 Virtual Family Reunion, Sheila Waldrop (OCS’s Case Management and Establishment Policy Manager) participated in a multi-state roundtable, and Kate Weaver participated in a Q&A session with a panel of bench officers.
But wait; there’s more! Erin Frisch also presented with the Fatherhood Research and Practice Network at the federal Office of Planning and Evaluation’s research conference, and with the Power of Fathers Initiative on the intersection of child support and fatherhood. She was also the keynote speaker at the California Child Support Director’s Association Policy Forum.
Michigan partners are participating in at least three upcoming trainings, as well. Erin Frisch will be an instructor for 2021 NCSEA U, Kelly Morse (OCS PDD Policy Manager) will be presenting at NCSEA’s 2021 Leadership Symposium on equity in policy, and Liz West will be facilitating Amy Rebideaux’s NCSEA WebTalk on internal and external customer service.
As Michigan partners continue to volunteer for national committees and trainings, our national reputation as a leader in child support continues to expand.
Michigan’s state membership to NCSEA means every child support professional in Michigan can receive member benefits including the quarterly newsletter, access to research and resources, free WebTalks, opportunities to serve on committees and workgroups, and discounted rates to conferences. If you are interested in volunteering with NCSEA or ERICSA, visit www.ncsea.org/volunteer or www.ericsa.org/committee-descriptions.
