Child support awareness celebrates families
Taylor Davison
CSKT Child Support Enforcement Program event
Taylor Davison
CSKT Child Support Enforcement Program event
Taylor Davison
CSKT Child Support Enforcement Program event
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Taylor Davison
CSKT Child Support Enforcement Program event
Taylor Davison
CSKT Child Support Enforcement Program event
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RONAN — As part of Child Support Awareness Month, the Tribal Child Support Enforcement Program held a Fun Day event to bring families together and provide support for kids and parents in need.
An annual event for current participants to recognize and acknowledge both those paying and receiving child support, this year’s event was carnival themed. Aimed towards some of the younger children in the program, the day offered plenty of games and activities, as well as door prizes and free lunch. On the practical end of things, they also had baskets of household goods that attendees could take for free.
“It’s just a fun day for us to bring everybody together, let the families be families, and it’s always a good time,” Project Director Hank Conko-Camel said. “We never really meet the people, we just see their names … This gives us an opportunity to meet our people and see the kids.”
The program currently has over 500 active cases, and has seen an estimated 3,000 since it began back in 2013.
Prior to their establishment in 2013, there had been no child support enforcement program with jurisdiction within the Flathead Reservation. Now, the Tribal Child Support Enforcement Program works for all parents and guardians within the boundaries of the reservation, both tribal and non-tribal alike, and has a good working relationship with the state.
“We mostly deal with low-income families. There’s no guideline to receive services, but the ones that usually come in are the ones that really need it,” Conko-Camel commented.
One common misconception she cleared up was that child support is not only for mothers. Fathers and grandparents acting as custodial guardians can collect child support as well and the process usually takes three to four months from beginning to end once the non-custodial parent is found.
“We’re here to work for both (custodial and noncustodial) sides,” Conko-Camel explained. “A lot of people think we’re against them, that when we serve you, we’re against you. That’s not it. We work for both sides of the party, whether you pay or receive. You can’t get blood out of a turnip.”
The program often attends events as a vendor to help get word out about the help they can offer and have applications on site during those instances. For those interested in potentially become a participant of the program and receiving help, they can call Conko-Camel at 406-676-2700 ext. 1284.
