DCL-04-19, 14th National Child Support Enforcement Training Conference

DEAR COLLEAGUE LETTER

DCL-04-19

ATTACHMENT: Registration Form
Tentative Agenda
ConferencFact Sheet

DATE: May 21, 2004

TO: ALL IV-D DIRECTORS

RE: 14th National Child Support Enforcement Training Conference - Sealing New Heights in Child Support

Dear Colleagues:

As the Child Support Enforcement (CSE) program grows and builds on its past accomplishments, its future direction promises exciting opportunities for the CSE community. This year’s 14th National Child Support Enforcement Training Conference is the forum for “Scaling New Heights in Child Support.” It will be held September 20-22, 2004, at the Doubletree Hotel-Crystal City in Arlington, Virginia.

In collaboration with State and Tribal IV-D Directors, the Federal Office of Child Support Enforcement is working to amend the National Child Support Enforcement Strategic Plan. I will highlight the contents of this very important document. Other conference topics include:

re-evaluating the structure and operations of our automation systems, including modernization of the Federal Parent Locator Service;
promoting early intervention practices;
introducing participants to the Final Rules for Tribal Child Support Enforcement; and
offering innovative approaches in many child support areas.

Web Casting

To encourage wide participation, OCSE web cast several of the events of last year’s conference. Because the response was overwhelmingly positive, we will again web cast the plenaries and several of the workshops. More information will soon become available on OCSE’s Home Page at www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cse/.

Tentative Agenda

Enclosed is a tentative agenda that identifies the plenaries and workshops. They were selected by the Planning Committee and other CSE professionals who know which aspects of the program are of serious interest to their colleagues. Many areas are covered, as the agenda reflects the comprehensiveness of the CSE program.

State Child Access and Visitation Program Coordinators Meeting

OCSE’s State Child Access and Visitation Program Coordinators Meeting will be held in conjunction with the conference. On Tuesday, September 21, 2004, the conference will feature three Child Access and Visitation Program workshops. These workshops will be open to all participants.

On Wednesday, September 22, 2004, there will be an all day event for Access and Visitation Program Coordinators. It will begin at 8:30 a.m. and conclude at approximately 3:00 p.m. OCSE will send participants separate invitations. Please contact Debra Pontisso at (202) 401-4548 or dpontisso@acf.gov for additional information.

Tribal Child Support Enforcement Program

The Final Rules for the Tribal Child Support Enforcement Program were issued on March 30, 2004. OCSE has scheduled a series of national Tribal Regulation meetings, with the last meeting to be held after the conference, on September 23-24, 2004. Please contact Ellamae Williams at (202) 401-5740 or ewilliams@acf.hhs.gov for additional information.

Conference Registration

The conference registration fee is $150. For State and Tribal CSE Program participants, this fee is eligible for Federal reimbursement. Participants may register for the conference using the enclosed registration form, which should be faxed or mailed to Westover Consultants, Inc. To register on our secure site, go to the OCSE Home Page at www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cse/ and click on the “14th National CSE Training Conference” icon. Registration information will appear. Participants registering online will receive a confirmation electronically. Participants registering through fax or mail will receive a written confirmation. Confirmation will be sent within four days of registering.

Hotel Registration and Confirmation

Information on the Double Tree Crystal City Hotel is contained in the enclosed “Fact Sheet.” Additional information regarding the hotel can be found at the hotel’s web site, www.doubletreecrystalcity.com. The cutoff date for hotel registration is August 22, 2004.

The lodging rate for a single room is $164.62 (i.e., the hotel rate of $150 plus 9.75% tax) per night. We strongly urge you to make your plans to attend the conference and call the hotel immediately for your reservation. The hotel’s phone number is (703) 416-4100. Be sure to mention that you are with the National Child Support Enforcement Training Conference.

Please inform your staff about this event. If you have any questions or need additional information regarding registration or hotel information, please contact:

Bonita Hawkins-Brown
Westover Consultants, Inc.
(301) 495-7174, Ext. 102.
bhawkinsbrown@Westover.com

or

Warren Johnson
(202) 690-6509
wajohnson@acf.hhs.gov

We look forward to seeing you at the conference.

Sincerely,

Sherri Z. Heller, Ed.D.
Commissioner
Office of Child Support Enforcement

Enclosures: Registration Form, Tentative Agenda, and Conference Fact Sheet.

cc: ACF Regional Administrators
ACF/CSE Program Managers
ACF/CSE Regional Training Liaisons
CSE State Training Liaisons
National CSE Training Work Group