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Some data from
U.S. General Accounting Office, March 29, 2002 report:
Click to view
GAO
Report
STARTLING STATISTICS:
~ Each year over 17 million parents must be pursued by Support Enforcement to support of their dependent children.
Many are "dead-broke". But close to HALF are "dead-beat", with "more than sufficient funds" to pay their court-ordered child support amount found the US General Accounting Office.
~ Only since 1998 has it been a federal felony for parents to owe their children support -- but not until $5,000 is accumulated in unpaid support.
~ Commonly, it takes ONE TO THREE years for loss of driver's license or wage garnishment to take effect.
~ 62% of monies that get collected are incorrectly accounted for.
Grampa and Gramma -- for you.
Sue
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Why Susan and family friends
started this organization. . .
 During 24 months with no child support, Susan Sweeney and her three children endured one five month period roofless i.e. relying on family and friends for shelter. During their struggle, Susan learned hers are just three victims of a system overwhelmed with cases, clerical errors and backlogged Courts (domestic relations account for 65% of current Court cases).
Many family and business friends witnessed the family's challenges and the lack of assistance within the very system designed to bring aid.And they said: That's not right.
With these friends now as Board members, Susan -- former Connecticut in-home day-care provider and graphic designer now grassroots activist and grantwriter -- dedicates herself to helping children go out into the world successfully.
SupportsKidsNOW provides a financial life raft to strugging working families by helping families obtain assistances efficiently. How? There is no single agency responsible for ensuring that "working poor" families learn about the many assistances available from non-profits, civic organizations, community service, federal, state, county & city governments. Often families who have not had contact with this system do not know they are eligible or how/where to apply.
Susan and SupportKidsNOW help "her" families to understand varying eligibility requirements, complete complex application forms and submit accurate documentation effectively...so aid comes quickly...preventing that family from breaking down or breaking apart.
Susan and SupportKidsNOW are also dedicated to increasing public awareness of the disastrous consequences to all parties within our current child support enforcement system. All data sources agree: there are at least 6.6 million parents with "more than adequate funds" but who deliberately choose not to provide food/clothing/shelter for their own child.
And we taxpayers are paying their bill through subsidized daycare, state health plans, free reduced lunches, the clogged and expensive Court system.
When are we going to say: Enough is Enough?!
OUR BOARD
As always: with much gratitude. shs
JOHN BLOSSER
Recipient of: (1) the National Child Support Enforcement Association Program Awareness Award; (2) Recipient of Western Interstate Child Support Enforcement Council Award for "Deadbeat Dads" series, l995; (3) Association of Children for the Enforcement of Support Golden Heart Annual Awards, l992-95;
---Pulitzer nominee for "Deadbeat Dads" program, 1995;
---featured in "Make The Jerk Pay," by Louis Rose and Roy Malone, copyright 1999, Albion Press, St. Louis, Mo.
---Creator and operator of the Enquirer’s award-winning “Deadbeat Dads” program.
CYNTHIA CHILLEMI, MCSE
Director of IT for a 40 year old manufacturers' representative company across three states and Puerto Rico, IT consultant, network engineer and website designer, Cynthia is also a proud parent and a proud foster parent. Cynthia's children are two of the many to experience hunger and struggle from unpaid child support.
Currently, she is assisting in an event fund-raiser for "Operation Smile". Other affiliations include: Women in Distress, Kids in Distress, Cystic Fibrosis, The Susan G. Komen Foundation and Kars for Kids.
BOB SINGER
After his position as a Vice President for Snelling International, Bob served as a consultant to staffing firms on how to improve profits through technology. Bob has managed and motivated large workforces for several companies, including Vice President of Marketing for Sharp Electronics and Panasonic, effecting sales across the entire country. He also started two very successful folk/acoustic music house concert series: The Singer House Concert Series has been used as a nation-wide example on promotion of successful concert series, and Singer Music Productions caters to the nostalgia, excitement and diversity of 60's and 70's music, featuring such acts as The Chad Mitchell Trio, Michael Johnson (Bluer Than Blue), and the Limeliters.
SHAUNA SWEENEY, YOUTH REPRESENTATIVE:
The daughter of SupportKidsNOW President Susan Sweeney, Shauna is now aged 24, and a marketing professional. From her eight years experience as a "victim" and as the oldest child of a single parent of three struggling without, then underpayment of, child support, Shauna is firmly committed to the belief that modern society needs to encourage the unity of the working family. Shauna offers the Board the invaluable viewpoint of the "child" struggling in an unpaid/underpaid family.
ADVISORS
FORREST BLEDSOE, MBA
Principal of several successful businesses over 35 years of specialization in the health care industry, and proud parent, Forrest's proudest accomplishment is his formation of the Alumni Association for "Up With People".
JPL Financial Enterprises, Inc. Plantation, FL
JOHN BROWN
Adjunct Professor at Florida International University and semi-retired as a partner in a 30-year old Broward County engineering firm whose Projects List includes the New Home and Training Facility of the Miami Dolphins and Blockbuster's Entertainment's 11-story highrise, John also formerly served as Director of Technology for Broward Community College.
John Brown, Professional Engineer, Fort Lauderdale, FL
With thanks to Susan's brother, mother and two sisters, to Don and Marcella, John and Barbara, and Pat, the lady in the gas station who gave travelling
strangers coffee and hot dogs. And my friend Ellen Bukstel and her wonderful song
- Change the World.
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