MIDDLEPORT — Though overlooked as a legitimate crime by some, delinquent child support is, in fact, a crime with victims who are the most vulnerable in society.

In 2008, the Meigs County Department of Job and Family Services Family Services Child Support Enforcement Agency collected over $3 million in child support, which was a record amount.

Supervisor Don Snyder said the $3 million mark has been a goal the unit has been striving to reach for the past few years, coming close in 2006 when it collected $2.9 million and 2007 when it closed the year at $2.8 million. Snyder, along with his MCDJFS co-workers, recognized CSEA staff during the agency’s recent in-service training.

MCDJFS Interim Director Barb Chapman reported the actual figure the CSEA collected was $3,050,665.

“Snyder, (agency attorney) John Custer and CSEA staff do an excellent job getting support dollars for the children they represent,” Chapman said. “To be able to increase collections in today’s economy is remarkable.”

Meigs County CSEA works with 2,236 child support cases, according to Chapman, who added that although staff are not always successful in collection on all of their cases for a variety of reasons, they continue to strive to increase collections.

The agency does take advantage of many tools available under the Ohio Revised Code to assist in collection, such as intercepting income tax refunds, attaching bank accounts, wage garnishment, property liens, drivers license suspensions, professional license suspensions, along with civil contempt and federal nonsupport orders.

Chapman said an example of how these tools are applied came when employee Randy Smith collected $11,917 in back child support on one case in 2008 when a passport suspension was put in place.

“It was quite an exciting day when someone hands over that amount of money and you know what it will mean to the children of the family,” Chapman said.

Chapman said the success of the agency is directly related to the cooperation and coordination between MCDJFS staff, the county prosecutor’s office and the court systems of Meigs County Common Pleas Judge Fred Crow and Juvenile Court Judge L. Scott Powell.

“Their commitment to protect and provide for the innocent children play a major role in making it possible to provide the children with the child support they deserve,” Chapman added.