Spotlight on an NCCSO Leader

Meet Lisa Johnson

I never imagined that I would end up an advocate for child support collection options. When I first stepped into the realm of the child support collection process, I was optimistic that my state agency would be able to collect the child support that the courts had awarded my son and me. Although I had heard of non-custodial parents running before, I mistakenly thought that entailed them going to Mexico and working for cash. I was quickly shed of that delusion and was appalled to find out just how easy it is for deadbeats to avoid child support if they want to.

I became the proverbial "squeaky wheel" and was calling the state agency at least twice a month. For more than a year I did this until February 2003, when I was told by one of the case workers that my son's father had found a way to beat the system and there was absolutely nothing that could or would be done.

Two days later I contacted a private company and they began the process of collecting the $10,000 that was owed to my son and me. Six weeks later I had a check in my hand that quite literally kept us off the streets while I looked for work.

Recently, certain legislators in the state of Illinois (where I live) have tried to restrict the private child support collection options available to parents in our state. They’re doing this by putting undue restrictions on private companies such that they can no longer successfully work in Illinois. Given the millions of dollars that go uncollected and the thousands of kids and families that do without in Illinois, I find this to be morally irresponsible.

I’ve now become active in trying to convince these legislators how important this child support money is to families. Although the testifying work I have done at the capital is difficult, draining and sometimes disillusioning, I cannot sit by and watch as options are taken away from hard-working parents.

I urge all parents who are owed child support to stay aware of what the legislators in their states are doing. Understand that if you do nothing, you are leaving the decisions to be made by people who may neither understand nor possibly care about the real issues at stake.

Remember, all parents deserve to have one more option when the state is unable to collect child support. Please look carefully at any legislation that restricts private agencies and think forward to the effect it will have on these agencies and the families they serve. Private child support collection agencies work hard to locate those who want to stay hidden. They work hard to collect much-needed money from those deadbeats who do not care. They work hard to put money and hope back into homes with little of either. There is no reason why they should do this for free.

To see a copy of the letter I prepared and sent to Illinois legislators, click here.

Get involved today, so that others have the options that helped Lisa.