Lake Co. child support enforcement unit gets financial boost

The Lake County state's attorney's office has received a helping hand in its efforts to keep the child support checks flowing.

State's Attorney Michael Waller said he was recently notified that the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services will be stepping up to cover nearly all of the expenses of his child support enforcement unit for the coming year.

Waller said IDHFS will contribute $992,226 of the unit's $1.1 million budget for the coming year, with the balance to be paid from local revenue sources.

The unit is staffed by three assistant state's attorneys, four secretaries, three paralegals and an investigator.

They handle approximately 17,000 cases per year, including those to establish paternity, setting of support levels, establishing medical support, and enforcing support orders.

Director selectedMarci Jumisko, director of administrative services for the 19th Judicial Circuit, has been named to a national team of experts working on improving education for court administrators.Jumisko will serve on the Education Design Committee for the National Center for State Courts, along with court leaders from around the country.Chief Judge Victoria Rossetti said the committee is charged with revising the curriculum for a three-week executive development course taken by court system officials.The course covers topics such as courtroom management, case flow issues and innovative ways to deliver services to those in the justice system."Once again, our staff continues to be called upon to assist in the development of the administration of justice," Rossetti said. "Marci is one of our exemplary leaders and it is wonderful that she will play a part in this very worthwhile effort."