Transcript Staff Writer
The Cleveland County District Attorney's Office has been selected to receive an OKDHS Quality Award from the Oklahoma Department of Human Services for its innovative approach in blending the efforts of the Child Support Enforcement and Juvenile Divisions of the office.
The presentation ceremony, sponsored by the OKDHS Quality Awards Team, is May 7 at the Clarion Hotel in Oklahoma City.
According to Greg Mashburn, district attorney for Cleveland, McClain and Garvin counties, the DHS opens medical cases on children taken into state custody due to deprivation in the household.
When the medical case is opened, the Child Support Enforcement Division receives a referral to review and enter an order for the child and medical support as appropriate.
"Our Child Support Enforcement Division faces certain restrictions in processing these cases until the Juvenile Division of the District Court defers jurisdiction over these issues to CSED. These cases negatively impact the office's federal performance measures -- state and federal audit scores and most importantly provide poor customer service to the community," Mashburn said.
In early summer 2007, the Child Support Enforcement Division partnered with the Juvenile Division of the office in an attempt to overcome these barriers and create a workable and meaningful solution, Mashburn said.
From this partnership, the Cleveland County Child Support Juvenile Docket Initiative was born. The program was initiated by Sharon R. Sitzman, managing attorney of the Child Support Enforcement Division, and Office Manager Diana Jarman.
"The Oklahoma Department of Human Services has recognized the District 21 Child Support Enforcement Division of the Cleveland County District Attorney's office's dedication to children in the community by selecting the initiative to receive an OKDHS Quality Award for 2008," Sitzman said.
DHS also recognizes individual achievement from each office or contract office, referred to as the "Best of the Best."
"Our office has chosen Sarah Encinias, finance specialist, to receive this honor this year," Sitzman said.
Division employees also include Meredith Tipton, assistant district attorney, Juvenile Division; Mary Thompson, supervisor, Child Support Enforcement Division; and Margie Campbell, locate specialist, Child Support Enforcement Division.
"Receiving the award was especially gratifying as our efforts have proven that each family's unique situation affects the divisions' shared goal of improving the lives of children and families in our community," Mashburn said.
For more information, call the district attorney's office at 321-8268.
Tom Blakey 366-3540 tblakey@normantranscript.com
Local news
DA's office to receive award
- Local news
-
-
Theater’s the scene for Norman marketing director
Nancy Coggins landed a job with a prestigious Oklahoma City advertising agency before the ink dried on her OU journalism diploma. The job was a first rung on her career ladder and she admits that it didn’t call for her creative talents. ...
-
New jail to install curtains
The F. DeWayne Beggs Detention Center, though still in its infancy, is getting a facelift: new curtains....
-
Businesses go the extra mile for Valentine’s Day
Among the various images the phrase “Valentine’s Day” might conjure in one’s mind, probably the most immediate is the iconic dozen roses and heart-shaped box of chocolates....
-
New rehabilitation, skilled care center will be next to HealthPlex
StoneGate Senior Living President and CEO John F. Taylor announced Friday that his company has completed the purchase of approximately 6.7 acres of land in the Norman Regional Health System’s Medical Park West project at NW 36th Avenueand ...
-
Mystery performance provides theatrical fatal attraction
James Briggs has a pretty steady day job with the city parks department, doesn’t live anywhere near Little River and probably never owned or slept in a hatchback. He doesn’t usually wear sport coats that are two sizes too small, either ...
-
'Get the Lead Out' annual children's art festival enters 10th year
Longfellow Middle School had a special “GLO” about it Saturday morning....
-
County prisoners moved to new jail
Cleveland County sheriff’s deputies began moving prisoners from the detention center adjacent to the courthouse to the new F. DeWayne Beggs Detention Center at Franklin Road and U.S. 77 early Saturday morning....
-
School board elections Tuesday
Voters go to the polls Tuesday in four Cleveland County school districts. Cleveland County Election Board Secretary Jim Williams said this will be the first election using the new voting system. Polls will open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on ...
-
Identity theft crackdown sweeps nation
WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service and the Justice Department recently announced a national sweep cracking down on suspected identity theft perpetrators as part of a stepped-up effort against refund fraud and identity theft....
-
Darry Stacy seeking county commission seat
Darry Stacy, a fifth generation Oklahoman and lifelong resident of Cleveland County, announced Friday that he will be a Republican candidate for the District 2 Cleveland County commissioner seat....
- More Local news Headlines
-
Theater’s the scene for Norman marketing director
