You would think that a state audit that showed that the Missouri Department of Social Services had not paid $4.1 million in child support, some dating back to 1997, because it couldn't find a current address for the intended recipient would be considered big news on the state website, but that is not the case.
The state publicity machine saw fit to include the department's response to the audit in the headlines on the state website's homepage, but not the news release on the audit itself.
The audit indicates not much of an effort was being made to find the addresses, but of course, the official response from the department pointed out that this amounted to less than one percent of child support.
While that is probably true, what difference does it make. It's still $4.1 million that did not go to children who needed it. I would much preferred to have had the spokesman say, "We are working to improve on this," or something of that nature, rather than "Hey, $4.1 million really isn't that much money."
Speaking from the employers side, the guy that is forced to withhold moneys from the employee and send it to the State, on the numerous times I have had to speak with the Family Support Center I have found it to be a very "uncaring and unconcerned" group of people. They make no errors, they offer no appologies. Of all the state government agencies I deal with, I dread calling this one with a problem.
ReplyDeleteRandy, why is this information not in The Joplin Globe?
ReplyDeleteI don't know, but Associated Press had an article on it which the Globe editors had access to, and the audit is on the state auditor's website.
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