The Richland County Community and Health Services meeting on May 8, 2025, focused on several key reports, particularly from the Child Support Agency, which highlighted ongoing challenges and future plans.

The Child Support Agency's first-quarter report revealed that collections for current child support fell below the benchmark for February and March, with an overall collection rate of 72.36%. The agency anticipates meeting the 80% benchmark in the coming months. Factors contributing to the decline include an increase in non-custodial parents being incarcerated or entering treatment centers, which pauses their child support obligations. Additionally, challenges arise when non-custodial parents move out of state, complicating enforcement efforts.

Training updates were also discussed, with the agency completing required training for the year and actively seeking new opportunities. The budget report indicated that 79.12% of the expenditure budget remains, although no revenue has been recorded yet for the year due to the state’s quarterly payment schedule.

In other discussions, the department is working on a job description for a long-vacant part-time position, and a data cleanup initiative has been successfully completed with minimal cases needing attention. The agency also participated in a local event aimed at educating youth about financial responsibilities, including child support.

The meeting also touched on the implementation of a new financial system, which is expected to enhance operational efficiency. The rollout of this system is anticipated to be fully operational by 2027.

Overall, the meeting underscored the ongoing efforts of Richland County's Community and Health Services to address challenges in child support collection and improve service delivery through training and system upgrades. The agency remains committed to keeping the community informed and engaged as they navigate these issues.