- CalCSA

Opening Plenary - Your Child Support Program Is Your Story - Will it Win the Oscar for Best Direction?

Opening Plenary

Speakers

Vangeria Harvey
Diane Potts

Summary

Hollywood’s Golden Age of Film (circa 1910 – 1965) produced amazing changes in the film viewing experience through advances in visual filming sound production, plot development, and directing. Early films like David Griffith’s “The Mothering Heart” were content with black and white, soundless visuals. Then, little by little changes like adding sound (“The Jazz Singer” in 1927), technicolor (“The Wizard of Oz” in 1939) and expansive, wide-ranging plots (“The Bridge on the River Kwai” from 1957) transformed film into the spectacle that we see today. The willingness to attempt and refine changes have made movies a better product. The world of IV-D is changing as well. What began as a prosecutorial model has transformed into a right-sized order based program which strives to serve all case participants. What is in store for the years ahead? Come join us as Diane Potts of CGI speaks of the ever-evolving landscape of child support from a national perspective. Hear her thoughts on strategies and visions, as well as the potential impacts to legal professionals, as the program undergoes a change in focus and direction. What will be most effective in serving our public and in helping our services reach families in need? How can you adapt those to your particular local support agency? In other words: What’s going to give you the sounds, visuals, plot and production you’ll need for an effective support program? You’ll hear the answers from our national expert, Diane Potts.

Plenary II - Hollywood’s Golden Age of Film

Plenary II

Summary

Judy Garland, Dean Martin, Ed Sullivan, and Johnny Cash all had variety shows decades ago. With singing, dancing, sketch comedy, and surprise guests, there was something for everybody! This session is the modern-day DCSS equivalent of IV-D variety. Join us as our presenters (“all the way from lovely Rancho Cordova!”) cover critical legislative and policy changes which will shape the future of the program. You’ll hear about recent changes to law and policy concerning the following areas: FEM Final Rule compliance under SB 343 (2023), foster care referrals under AB 1686 (2022), license suspensions under SB 1055 (2022), formerly assisted pass-through, uncollectible debt, and more. We’ll wrap up each segment with an update on the status of implementation and what to expect next. This whole show will be presented live, in color, and without commercial interruption, but with MCLE credit! And don’t forget to attend the appellate workshop for an update on case law!

Sovereign Citizens - The Good, The Bad and the Ugly

Sovereign Citizens

Speakers

Rebecca Durney
Kristine Golden

Summary

Picture it – You’ve located PPS and have served them with a Summons and Complaint now they are claiming not to recognize the court’s authority and claim to be a representative of the person formerly known as PPS. Huh? What does this mean? Welcome to the wild world of Sovereign Citizens: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly. Like Clint Eastwood’s “Man with No Name” character in the Sergio Leone trilogy of movies, Sovereign Citizens seek to exist beyond the reach of the law of the United States of America. This presentation will explore and help you identify anti-government individuals who share common beliefs and behaviors, how this appears in the child support context and finally how your agency should deal with these individuals in and out of the courtroom.

It's a Wonderful Profession: The New IV-D Attorney

The New IV-D Attorney

Speakers

Vangeria Harvey
Kelly Mclaughlin
Reesa Miller

Summary

Congratulations! You have landed the role as a new child support attorney. In scene one of this course, aspiring newcomers will receive an overview of the Title IV-D program and the state plan. In scene two, our seasoned presenters will discuss the difficulty LCSAs in our state have had determining where to draw the line between attorney and client when providing services. We’ll talk about what role you are playing. In scene three, our new talent will learn how they can be more successful in their roles by learning what resources are at their disposal and where to find them.

Don't Get Trapped by Parentage

Parentage

Speakers

Shannon Richards
Manuel Villegas

Summary

A practical discussion about pleadings, contests, and conflicts between Judgments/VDOPs and the law that supports them. Come learn about some crazy examples and work with the presenters to develop the strategies to move forward in these sometimes-complex cases. We’ll round out the discussion with perspectives from State DCSS.

UIFSA - Hague

Speakers

Brian Tabatabaie
Nate Todd

Summary

Are your case participants traveling from one country to the next like the Rat-Pack of yesteryear?  In an ever more interconnected world, it is no surprise that parents end up residing in separate countries with different languages, laws, and cultures.  Nonetheless, their children still need their support.  This session will delve into international child support cases by providing an overview of the 2007 Hague Convention on International Recovery of Child Support and Other Forms of Family Maintenance and the tools it provides to efficiently get support across member states’ boundaries.

Plenary III

Speakers

David Kilgore
Kristen Donadee

Summary

One of the key narrative conventions which defined “classical Hollywood storytelling” was a character’s efforts to solve a problem or achieve a goal. A good script with this story was often coupled with a strong director, such as Frank Capra or Orson Welles. Armed with the story, the directors set out a vision for what the film would portray and how it would be done, a concept which came to be known as a “Director’s Vision.” Being a “visionary” is of course not limited to filmmaking. Please join our own Director David Kilgore and Chief Deputy Director Kristen Erickson-Donadee as they discuss the future goals for the IV-D program and their script and vision for the road ahead. Learn about their collective thoughts for the future of the child support program, including current initiatives and innovative, pioneering ideas for critical plot points such as expanded services to support our IV-D families. Hollywood studio heads would famously ask “Where is this picture going?” The same has been asked of David and Kristen, and this session will give you their production ideas for “the big silver screen” in child support.

Appealing to Your Senses at a Higher Level

Appealing

Speakers

Robert Sech
Ricardo Enriquez

Summary

Do you want to make a good record? No, not the kind Dean Martin used to make for Capitol.  This record is much more important. We will discuss best practices for making a clear trial court record that will allow for a successful appeal.  You will also get to “step into the studio” and explore case situations which will test your trivia and record-making skills by exploring some sample case situations to see what decisions you would make.  Do you want more? We’ve got an insider’s view of the “Rat-Pack” roundtable known as the State Appellate Advisory Committee. We will discuss how the Committee works, its role in the state’s IV-D process, and what you must do if you are planning to appeal a case or if you are responding to an appeal filed by another party.   Bring a cold drink, pally…you’ll be entertained and enlightened at the same time!

Get Those Ruby Slippers (Trusts/Estates)

Trusts/Estates

Speakers

Justin Arnold
Victoria Davis

Summary

Ding Dong the wicked witch is dead. Well, not the witch exactly. But someone has died and left an estate which could be used to satisfy a child support obligation.  This class will discuss what to do in a variety of situations involving wills, trusts and intestate succession. While probate court can feel like the Land of Oz to Child Support Attorneys, we will be like Glinda the Good Witch, providing you with what you need to follow the yellow brick road, convince the man (or woman) behind the bench to give you the ruby slippers and get you safely back to your own personal Kansas.

Bankruptcy

Speakers

Oliver Greene
Jennifer Shoemaker

Summary

While bankruptcy might not be a topic you would think of when hearing about the “Golden Era of Child Support,” it is a topic you will need to know about. Come join us to hear what all the people say when you’re riding high in April and filing for bankruptcy in May. That’s life in bankruptcy law. We’ll show you how to navigate a bankruptcy case and how your LCSA can be involved. We will show you the ins and outs, ups and downs, and opportunities to collect even during the bankruptcy case.

Cutting Pinocchio's Strings

Pinnocchio

Speakers

Derek Hooper
Mujdah Rahim

Summary

Join us as we journey to become real, good child support attorneys. We’ll have a whale of a time exploring how the child support calculator brings clarity and truth the to the nuanced world of child support calculations. It’s no lie, this powerful tool transforms fictional numbers into realistic financial obligations, ensuring fair and accurate support for children. With captivating interactive discussions, we’ll cut the strings that limit us to a stiff, wooden application of the calculator and embark on a quest to become real brave, truthful and unselfish attorneys, leveraging the calculator’s magic to facilitate guideline child support orders.

Create your Own Goldrush Using QDROs

QDRO

Speakers

Erena Faynblut
Dianna Gibson

Summary

The Gold Rush---Using QDROs to increase collections. Each presenter will provide their county’s unique processes and procedures for utilizing QDROs strategically to boost collections. The discussion will include how to screen for cases, tools to obtain relevant information, required draft provisions, and much more!

Anatomy of a Tax Return

Tax Returns

Speakers

Michael Marcelo
Orsi Sabado
Reesa Miller

Summary

Suspense! Plot twists! High drama! While these themes are the hallmarks of an award-winning film like Anatomy of a Murder, they are not typical of a child support calculation. However, child support does have one great mystery: the tax return. Join your fellow child support professionals in a deeper exploration of this enigma, as we identify and analyze many of the forms and schedules that comprise personal and business tax returns. This session will cover the utility of tax returns and some methods to obtain them. You will also be presented with tactics to review returns and identify relevant and probative income information, as well as examples of expenses that elicit a desire to closely scrutinize. At the end of this session, we hope that any reasonable doubt you may have previously had about reviewing tax returns will be replaced with the conviction that you have the tools to determine income available for support.

Plenary IV: Reframing Belonging and Inclusion

Belonging & Inclusion

Speakers

Lavada English
Dee Dinnie

Summary

LaVada English, CEO of Bright Places, Inc., will enlighten us on transformative approaches to foster a sense of belonging and promote inclusivity. She will guide us in reframing our perceptions of differences, equipping us with practical techniques for navigating interactions with clients and colleagues in our daily lives. Key Takeaways: 1. Developing a Solid Foundation in Intercultural Capacity: Gain a fundamental understanding of how to effectively engage with diverse cultures and perspectives. 2. Strengthening Empathy and Perspective-Taking: Enhance your ability to see and connect with differing viewpoints, fostering more meaningful relationships. 3. Cultivating Curiosity about Cultural Nuances: Ignite a genuine interest in exploring your own cultural intricacies, enabling personal growth. LaVada will transcend the limitations of previous diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) trainings, dispelling stigmas and guiding us towards unity and ongoing progress.