Mercer County Child Support Highlights Family Support Day, Food Drive and Amnesty Program

Mercer County Child Support is preparing for several activities in August as part of Child Support Awareness Month, including the fourth annual Family Support Day, a community food drive and two opportunities for people to resolve child support-related warrants.

Assistant Director Lee Copeland joined WCSM’s Spectrum to explain that the agency’s primary responsibility is making sure children receive financial support from both parents following a separation or divorce. The office also helps locate noncustodial parents, establish paternity, obtain medical-support orders and establish or modify child-support orders when those actions can be completed administratively.

Copeland said the agency handles an average of approximately 2,000 open cases at any given time. With an average of two children involved in each case, she estimated that the local child-support program affects or assists roughly 4,000 Mercer County children.

While the agency is responsible for enforcing support orders, Copeland emphasized that employees also want to help parents who are struggling with unemployment, medical concerns or another major financial change. Parents who can no longer meet their current obligation are encouraged to contact their caseworker instead of ignoring the situation.

Maintaining communication may allow the agency to connect a parent with employment assistance or other community resources and could help prevent additional legal action.

Copeland also addressed a common misconception that child support and visitation are directly connected. She explained that a parent’s support obligation remains in place even when that person is not currently seeing the child. Visitation disputes must be handled separately through the court.

Family Support Day

The fourth annual Family Support Day will be held Tuesday, August 4, from 10 a.m. until noon at the Mercer County Agricultural Center on Mud Pike in Celina.

The free event is open to the public, with a special focus on families with children. No registration is required, and families may simply arrive and participate.

A variety of local agencies will be available to provide information about employment, child development, family assistance, public safety and other community services. Participating organizations are expected to include OhioMeansJobs, Our Home Family Resource Center, the Mercer County Board of Developmental Disabilities, Job and Family Services, law enforcement and Soil and Water Conservation.

Copeland said the event provides families with a convenient opportunity to meet several organizations in one location and learn about programs they may not realize are available.

Children’s activities will include an obstacle course, scavenger hunt, birdhouse building, kite making and other crafts. A touch-a-truck area is also planned, featuring emergency medical equipment, a Soil and Water Conservation vehicle and a tractor.

The event had previously been held at the Central Services Building, but construction at that location led organizers to move this year’s program to the Agricultural Center.

Donations Collected for Our Home

Family Support Day will also include a food and personal-care drive benefiting the Our Home Family Food Pantry.

Requested items include soup, dry goods, canned meat, larger-sized diapers, shampoo, conditioner, dish soap and laundry detergent. Donations are appreciated but are not required to attend the event.

Collection boxes will remain available throughout August at Chief Supermarket in Celina and outside the Mercer County Child Support office.

Amnesty Days Scheduled

Mercer County will also offer two Amnesty Day sessions for people with child support-related warrants.

Copeland explained that the program allows individuals to voluntarily appear before the court and address warrants connected to issues such as failure to appear or criminal nonsupport. The goal is to clear the warrant and work toward a resolution without the person being unexpectedly arrested at another location.

The Juvenile and Common Pleas Court session will be held Tuesday, August 18, from 1 to 3 p.m. in the juvenile courtroom.

The Municipal Court session will be held Wednesday, August 19, from 9 to 11 a.m. Municipal Court is located above the Celina Fire Department.

Copeland said the judge will attempt to work with those who voluntarily appear, with the goal of resolving the matter and avoiding jail time when possible.

Ohio residents are also encouraged to wear green Wednesday, August 5, in recognition of Child Support Awareness Month. Green was selected because it represents growth, renewal, health and vitality.