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All in Adams--Child Support Awareness Month
29 Plays1 month ago
Supporting Families, Changing Lives: Inside Child Support Services
In this episode, we sit down with Bernadette Ebert, Child Support Case Manager, and Jeremy Sawyer, Child Support Administrator, to learn more about the vital work of Adams County’s child support services team. From helping families find stability to ensuring kids have what they need to thrive, Bernadette and Jeremy share the real-world impact of their work and the personal stories that keep them inspired every day. Tune in for a behind-the-scenes look at how child support services make a difference in our community.
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Transcript
Introduction to All In Adams Podcast
00:00:00
Speaker
Welcome to All In Adams, the official podcast of Adams County Government, where we're all in for our residents, our employees, and our community. So whether you live here, work here, or you just want to know more about what makes Adams County a great place to be, thanks for tuning in.
00:00:17
Speaker
We're all in, Adams.
Meet the Host: Nikki Wellander
00:00:19
Speaker
Welcome back to All In Adams. I'm Nikki Wellander, and I'm the Press Secretary for Adams County, and I will be your host for today's episode that hits right at home for so many people in our community.
What is Child Support Awareness Month?
00:00:30
Speaker
August is Child Support Awareness Month, and we're taking some time to highlight the incredibly important and often unseen work that happens to support families and children in our community.
Who are Bernadette Ebert and Jeremy Sawyer?
00:00:39
Speaker
Today, I'm joined by Bernadette Ebert, a Child Support Case Manager with Adams County Human Services, and with Jeremy Sawyer, a Child Support Administrator.
00:00:48
Speaker
Thank you both so much for joining us today. Thank you. Yeah, thanks for having us. I've never been on a podcast before, but I've always wanted to. So this is awesome. You get your chance today. I'm so excited to have you both here today. Yeah, thank you.
00:01:00
Speaker
So let's start off with just some level setting.
Why is Child Support Important?
00:01:03
Speaker
Why is child support such an important piece of human services work here in Adams County? Yeah, that's a huge question. um Really looking at why child support is important for our community is it allows families to have an additional amount of income coming in and gives families opportunities that they may not have if they were not receiving that child support from a non-custodial parent.
00:01:23
Speaker
When we do that, we also allow families to be moving out of poverty, and into different circumstances that their families may not have been able to get to without this additional funds. And we know that there can be a correlation sometimes between poverty and child abuse and neglect.
00:01:38
Speaker
And so by doing this, we're hopefully being able to mitigate some of the other down the road impacts for these families that they may have had if we were not able to help make sure that they were receiving that money from the non-custodial parent.
00:01:51
Speaker
Yeah, it's the difference between struggle and stability for a lot of families. And tell me a little bit more about that. Tell me how child support does create that stability and opportunity for for kids here right in Adams County.
00:02:05
Speaker
So when child support is consistent, like I was saying, it it really is the difference between struggle and stability for a lot of families. You know, it enables ah different things like housing, food, ah school supplies, you know, and without it, those things just might not be possible for families. And it's really important to have that consistency.
00:02:30
Speaker
And we also know that it can be difficult for families within a single household income. And so being able to receive that on a regular and reoccurring basis that you know that you can trust that it will be there, it gives that comfort and that fear-reducing piece for our families.
00:02:47
Speaker
And so then they're able to really focus on growth growth. and Living rather than that fear of I've just got to get by and I'm doing everything and I'm scraping and we're able to go and have those fun opportunities.
00:03:01
Speaker
Maybe because we have that additional income coming in. Absolutely. Those things that enrich a child's life. Right.
Bernadette's Role as an Advocate
00:03:10
Speaker
So for people who may not fully understand, how would you describe what a child support case manager does, Bernadette?
00:03:16
Speaker
Okay, so we are more of an advocate, right? We are problem solvers. We're connectors. And that piece is really important to helping someone navigate the system they may not know. um it can be really overwhelming, it can be frustrating, emotional.
00:03:36
Speaker
And so we're there to basically be like, you know, a guiding hand in their lives. And that's very important. Absolutely. And I want to pause for just a second because I realized that child support can be ah tough topic for a lot of families to talk about, especially families that are going through it.
00:03:53
Speaker
So for somebody who's listening right now and maybe is just kind of holding their breath or is a little bit tense, what would you say to them? I would say I've been there. I know from personal experience.
00:04:07
Speaker
I know and i I work both sides. I see both sides of it, you know, the the professional and the personal piece. And, you know, the best thing I can say is to hang in there, you know, and just realize you're not alone. You're not alone. And that's why our job is so important to help parents and and guide them through that process.
00:04:29
Speaker
I'm really glad that you brought up that you've seen all sides of this issue.
Bernadette's Personal Journey
00:04:32
Speaker
Let's talk a little bit about you and about your story. Tell me how you came to do this work and why. Yeah. So, um, personally I've, I've been through a divorce and you know, I have four boys. So I am now a single mom to four amazing, wild, hilarious boys and they're, they're my life. And so you know, I know what, what it's like to go without it and to need that stability and consistently it's very important. And, um, you know, I, I took what was the hardest time in my life, the hardest thing I've ever been through and I turned it into a career and that's something that I'm really proud of. And and i hope that my personal testimony can, you know, lift others up and and be inspirational to, to people.
00:05:21
Speaker
What has it been like? What has that road been like to take the most difficult time in your life, as you said, and turn it into a career path that helps other people? um Honestly, it's been healing.
00:05:34
Speaker
It's been very healing. You know, I took that pain and and turned it into purpose and something meaningful. And I'm just so grateful for my journey that I've been on that's led me here. And like i said, it's it's what makes me so passionate about the work that I do.
00:05:51
Speaker
With four boys in tow, you've been able to take that and make something make something gold out of it. Yeah, absolutely. I'm very proud of that. that's sort That's amazing.
00:06:03
Speaker
How do you feel that your experience then makes you ah better advocate for the families that you serve? um Just because, like I said, I've i've been there, you know, i know um what it feels like to to not feel seen or heard or understood. i know ah frustration and the emotional toll that it can take. And so if I can be that difference, you know, my team members, you know, everybody that I work with, if we can be that difference in in someone's life. And, you know, that's that's what it's all about, you know, helping them, guiding them through this process. It can be.
00:06:39
Speaker
really isolating and overwhelming. And, you know, that's what we're there for is to make a difference and help them through it. Absolutely. That's, that's incredible. Thank you for being willing to share that. It's really brave of you.
Specialization in Intergovernmental Cases
00:06:51
Speaker
You have a pretty unique specialization in your work too. Can you tell me a little bit more about that? Yeah. So I do intergovernmental work. I work cases where um and the non-custodial party either lives outside the state of Colorado or um sometimes outside of the U.S. You know, there are other countries that we have reciprocity with. And um it's really awesome to be able to work with other government agencies ah to establish support, you know, whether it be establishing an order or modifying an order or, you know, just helping parents stay on track with parent, with their payments. It's, um it's awesome. It's really great.
00:07:29
Speaker
And there, it's a lot of navigating other state laws, countries, laws, their timelines. It can be frustrating at times, but honestly,
00:07:41
Speaker
It's also really rewarding, too, to have somebody else back you up and and be there to support you and get the job well done and get these families and children taken care of. What led you to that specialization?
00:07:55
Speaker
Honestly, my boss, when I got hired on, she goes, well, how do you feel about dealing with other states? And I said, well, I've never done that before, but why not? You know, it sounds great. And I know a lot of people, it's not their thing. They're like, oh my goodness, I could never. But I actually really do enjoy it. I really do enjoy it. So she picked the right person for the job.
Years of Service in Human Services
00:08:16
Speaker
Bernadette, Jeremy, both of y'all, how long have you been working in this field?
00:08:22
Speaker
Let's see, i about three years. Yeah. Okay. And I've been in human services in different capacities for almost 20 years. Okay, amazing. So we've got we've got almost a quarter of a century of experience on this couch right now. That's pretty incredible.
00:08:37
Speaker
Yes. That's pretty incredible. A quarter of a century of experience of helping children and families. that's That's amazing. Thank you both so much for everything you've done for people here and for making a difference. So looking back to that first day on the job to now, what is the thing that surprises you the most that maybe you didn't expect and that now you're like, oh yeah, that is what it is?
00:09:00
Speaker
I think for me, really kind of looking at it is you expect to have one story over and over again, but every family who comes in is with a different story and they have their own thing about them that makes them unique.
00:09:13
Speaker
And you may say, Oh, I've heard this before, but really listening to the community members and about what they're going through and what their experience is. It's very enlightening and eyeopening of the different things that some of our families have experienced day in and day out. And just the strength and resiliency of some of these individuals that you hear some of these stories and it just breaks your heart and makes you want to sometimes give up, but yet they're standing there, they're fighting, they're trying to get what they need for their families.
00:09:43
Speaker
And it's just very encouraging to see sometimes our community come together and support those that are at the highest need. Yeah, absolutely. It's navigating a lot of complex, you know, family dynamics. And for for me personally, I think.
00:10:01
Speaker
it's the emotional side of things, you know, sure we do emails and, you know, legal processes and paperwork and there's a lot of that. We definitely do that. But, um, the, the human side of the job, it really, ah it's It's heavy sometimes. You're you're sitting with people you know who are in tears sometimes and you know going through the worst part of their lives and you're there to guide them and see them through that. and you know I think that connection matters. Being able to lead with empathy is really, really important and i don't i don't take that lightly. you know I think it's important to build trust and communication people
00:10:44
Speaker
these parents and these families and um the emotional side of it can be really big sometimes, but also very impactful.
Recognizing Child Support Awareness Month
00:10:54
Speaker
So as I mentioned at the top of the podcast, August guess is Child Support Awareness Month, and our Board of County Commissioners is going to be issuing a proclamation here at the start of the month to recognize the team in Human Services, to recognize the both of you and everybody that you work with for all of your hard work.
00:11:10
Speaker
So congratulations to you guys for that. um Tell me a little bit more about what it means to have an observance that is recognizing you and your work and your team, and why do we observe that here at Adams County?
00:11:25
Speaker
I think, um you know, a lot of it is visibility, right? It's shining light on on the team that is doing the the hard work behind the scenes a lot of the time. And, you know, it's really important to highlight the the hard work that all of these people do. It's amazing.
00:11:44
Speaker
Yeah, I really kind of look at it as like a twofold. One is to be able to educate the community and bring to light this awesome program and to make sure that folks know that it is a resource. um Oftentimes it's seen as a topic that people don't want to talk about.
00:11:58
Speaker
um It's seen as this negative light, but really our job here is to help and we really want the best everyone. every party that's involved within our cases. And the second part of it is really to celebrate these team members who do this hard work day in and day out.
00:12:13
Speaker
I'm excited as this will be my first proclamation with the child support team. And we've really talked about different areas and different things that we can do every single day to celebrate the hard work that they do, but also to bring to light the education and the recognition within the community of this awesome program and how much of a support it really is. And so this proclamation really gives us an opportunity to do that. um We're hoping that a lot of our team will be there. um We're going to be dressed up in green to really recognize the child support awareness month and for them to be recognized by the board of county commissioners. And again, for that to be at a public hearing so the community can see and hear this awesome resource as well.
00:12:52
Speaker
Yeah, absolutely. We're very proud to be part of Adams County. i mean We lead with and compassion and fairness and it's just a great place to be. All right, so I'll make sure to wear my green.
00:13:04
Speaker
um I'm always so excited for these proclamations. I get to, I work directly at the board, so I get to see all of them in action and I'm so excited to get to be there to witness celebrating our teams and celebrating the incredible work that's happening and the impact that it's having on our community.
00:13:20
Speaker
So congratulations to both of you and thank you so much for everything you're doing. Little bit of a thinker of a question for y'all now.
A Heartwarming Success Story
00:13:28
Speaker
um Share with me, if you will, a moment where you saw the direct impact of the work that y'all do on a child's life.
00:13:37
Speaker
Hmm.
00:13:41
Speaker
I think really looking at it, like I said earlier, with experiencing different areas within human services and really being able to see those families, we talk about benefits, we talk about child support, and sometimes there's that negative connotation that goes along with it. But really what these families want is to be able to stand and thrive on their own.
00:13:59
Speaker
And that's what our job is. And sometimes they need help guiding the red tape, figuring out what resources are there. When you look at rule and you look at different things like that, it can be confusing for those that are doing it every single day because of the way that the rule is written. And so for us to be able to remove some of those barriers, it's awesome when you have a customer come in and just say, thank you.
00:14:20
Speaker
um And they know you by name and they'll come in and ask for you because, oh, you were here last time and you were really able to help us at that point. And that was a great experience for us. And so just those little one-offs or you get to build that relationship with the family and then all of sudden they're graduating fifth grade and you get to celebrate that with them and be like, that's awesome.
00:14:42
Speaker
And they really feel comfortable reaching out to you for the good and for the bad. That's when I know that we've made a difference in our community. Yeah, absolutely. Uh, personally speaking, I can think of ah very specific case. Uh, it was December of last year.
00:15:00
Speaker
So mighty right before Christmas. Right. And, um, I had been working with a fellow government agency and it had taken a really long time to get this case moving. And ah right before Christmas, we were able to ah collect a ah pretty substantial lump sum amount of support for mom and her son.
00:15:28
Speaker
And I'll never forget when I called her to make sure that she had received it and everything was good. um and She just broke down crying. I mean, absolutely sobbing. and And she goes, now I can give my kids the Christmas that they deserve. And um it was huge in that moment. You know, i just I knew that this is this is why I do the work that I do.
00:15:48
Speaker
it means the most to know that I am making an impact in someone else's life and um it was a really special moment for sure I was very happy for them yeah you've got me tearing up over here and I'm trying really hard not to cry but ah yeah there are days like that absolutely I'm sure I'm sure that that y'all have a lot of those moments every single day If there was one thing that both of you wish that the community understood more about child support services, what, what would it be?
Clarifying Misconceptions about Child Support
00:16:27
Speaker
That we're not the bad guys. I feel like we get painted as the bad guys a lot of the time, but we're not, you know, um it's our job to work with families, not against them. And it's not like we just serve one parent or the other. That's not how it is at all. We look at the situation as a whole, you know, the the family and how can we best serve them. And I just want people to know that we're here to help and to support families.
00:16:52
Speaker
And hopefully, you know, leave them feeling more confident and supported than when they first walked in. So if that's the impact that we can leave behind, then, you know, it's it's a job well done.
00:17:06
Speaker
How about you, Jeremy? I don't think I could have said it any better than what Bernadette said, but really we're a resource. We're able to answer some of those questions. And if there's roadblocks that are in the way, our job is to kind of help remove some of those roadblocks to make sure that we're helping everybody. and It's the family that we're looking at, um like Bernadette said. And so coming in, just asking questions, being able to look at different opportunities for resources, that's what we're here for.
00:17:33
Speaker
um We're not the bad guys. Like Bernadette said, i I don't think I could have said it any better. Bernadette, when you look at your own story and on your career so far and the families you've helped, what are you the proudest of?
The Role of Empathy in Advocacy
00:17:48
Speaker
I think I'm proudest of my resilience and my passion. You know, like I said, my personal testimony and everything that I've been through is what led me to the work that I do. And I think that heart being in it is really important.
00:18:05
Speaker
And I think it makes the biggest difference. Again, leading with empathy can really go a long way. So I think that's what I'm most proud of. Well, thank you for sharing your story with us today. And thank you both for coming and being here.
00:18:19
Speaker
and ask you my hardest question, and that is, what did I miss? What else in everything that you do do you want to share with us today?
00:18:29
Speaker
We covered a lot of everything. So thank you for having us. All right. Perfect. Well, thank you both for being here. This has been an incredible conversation for Bernadette Ebert and for Jeremy Sawyer. i am Nikki Wellander. And thank you so much for joining another episode of All In Atoms.
Episode Conclusion
00:18:44
Speaker
That's a wrap for this episode of All in Adams. Thank you for joining us as we explore the people, programs, and the policies that make Adams County a great place to live, work, and thrive.
00:18:56
Speaker
If you enjoyed the show, be sure to subscribe and share with your friends, neighbors, and colleagues. Have a topic you'd like us to cover? Let us know. We're all in for bringing you the stories that matter most.
00:19:07
Speaker
Until next time, take care of each other and stay connected with us on Facebook, Instagram, Nextdoor, and X. We're all in, Adams, and we're all in for you.