California’s child support program is an important part of the state’s effort to nurture and protect the future–our children. Since the California Department of Child Support Services began operations in 2000, the child support program has evolved from a decentralized system administered by local district attorneys to a statewide program operated by local child support agencies overseen by the state.
Program Mission
The mission of the California Child Support Services Program is to promote the well-being of children and the self-sufficiency of families by assisting both parents to meet the financial, medical, and emotional needs of their children through the delivery of quality child support establishment, collection, and distribution services.
Who we serve
California’s Child Support Services Program works with parents—custodial and noncustodial—and guardians to ensure children and families receive court-ordered financial and medical support. Child support services are available to the general public through a network of 52 county and regional child support agencies (LCSAs). For more detailed information click on the Child Support Program Handbook.
Meet the Director
PRESS RELEASE
11/28/2007 GAAS:930:07 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Governor Schwarzenegger Appoints David Maxwell-Jolly Director of Department of Child Support Services
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today announced the appointment of David G. Maxwell-Jolly as director of the Department of Child Support Services (DCSS) in the Health and Human Services Agency (HHS).
"With David's leadership, the department has developed cutting-edge technology to provide vital financial security to thousands of California children and families. His technical expertise and commitment to helping families make him the ideal candidate for this job," said Governor Schwarzenegger. "I extend my heartfelt appreciation for Greta Wallace's service and leadership over the past three years. She headed the implementation of a single, statewide automated child support system - one of the state's largest information technology projects - which helps California families and saves the state millions of dollars in federal penalties."
Maxwell-Jolly has served as chief deputy director for DCSS since 2005. In this position, he advises and assists the director of the department in the formulation, implementation and administration of statewide policies pertaining to child support services programs and systems including the California Child Support Automation System (CCSAS). From 2002 to 2004, Maxwell-Jolly was project director of CCSAS at DCSS and the Franchise Tax Board, where he directed state and contract staff in the development of the statewide automated system and the state disbursement unit. Maxwell-Jolly previously served as a deputy secretary for HHS from 1999 to 2002. As deputy secretary, he provided budget and management oversight for 12 departments and one board under the agency.
From 1986 to 1999, Maxwell-Jolly was a principal consultant on health and human services issues for the California State Senate. Prior to that, Maxwell-Jolly was a supervising analyst for the California Legislative Analyst's Office from 1982 to 1986. His experience also includes two years as a project analyst for the Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program.
"I share Governor Schwarzenegger's philosophy that an investment in our children is an investment in California's future. I have spent the past five years working to make the child support automation project a success and I will continue on this path as the director of the Department of Child Support Services," said Maxwell-Jolly.
Maxwell-Jolly, 58, of Sacramento, earned a doctorate in public policy analysis from the Frederick S. Pardee RAND Graduate School, a Master of Public Health from the University of Michigan and a Bachelor of Arts degree in history and political science from Indiana University at Bloomington. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $142,965. Maxwell-Jolly is a Democrat.
The mission of the DCSS is to promote the well-being of children and the self-sufficiency of families by assisting both parents to meet the financial, medical and emotional needs of their children. The department and the local child support agencies that it oversees establish, collect and distribute child support for children in California, as well as establish spousal and medical support and determine paternity.