Child-Support Reforms

Re “Few Changes Expected in New Child Support Plan,” Sept. 27.

As a lifelong resident of Ventura County and the mother of children once affected by a broken family and child-support issues, I would like to comment as well as make a plea for common-sense action on behalf of our local child-support program.

I have followed media reports about the child-support program locally and statewide from the very beginning. I have also read the legislative analysis of SB 542 and AB 196 and have close sources who work within the program.

The intent of the proposed reform is uniformity statewide, increased collections and the creation of a statewide computer system to track noncustodial parents. Having said that, I must say I was shocked and appalled by Ventura County the district attorney’s Child Support Division Director Stan Trom’s comments as quoted in this article: “Basically, we scratch [Dist. Atty.] Mike Bradbury’s name off the door and stencil on the name of the person from the state.” In the same breath, he had the audacity to say he would like to be considered for the position as director to run the new department in this county. The key word here is “reform,” meaning “change for the better.”

Mr. Trom has overseen the county’s district attorney Child Support Division for more than a decade, coincidentally without noticeable improvement until the program came under attack after The Times reported the poor collection rates in Los Angeles County. Statistics gathered by California’s $100-million failed attempt at statewide automation magically were inflated to reveal that Ventura County’s collections had gone from 21% to 40%.

The time is now for a wise and common-sense decision to replace the current Child Support Division management staff with fresh blood, professionals who care more about the livelihood of our county’s children than self-promotion. The Ventura County Board of Supervisors must take the time and effort to conduct a nationwide search for a child-support professional to head the new department. Our children deserve better.

LINDA E. CABLE

Oxnard