A Mother’s Dilemma A local mom received a child support order she could not pay and just wanted custody of her children BY EDGAR SANCHEZ
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says Woloshin, who n late June 2021, San Bernardino resident Mary Chapman* became Mary’s “unofficial received a letter that traumatized her. Sent by San advocate.” Bernardino County’s Department of Child Support Woloshin told Mary Services, the letter contained a warning: Mary might soon she could respond, have to pay almost $2,000 a month to support her three daughters, then in foster care. The proposed amount, subject to in writing, by stating her opposition to the court approval, had been determined by DCSS, after weighing proposed child support and various factors, including Mary’s income as a medical expressing her desire for professional. reunification—a legal Soon after, the panicked Mary obtained the contact step that would help her. number for Barbara Woloshin, a DCSS child Without ever meeting in person, Mary support specialist. and Woloshin exchanged numerous Days later—on July 13—Woloshin’s e-mails as Mary navigated her case phone rang. The caller was Mary, who without an attorney. said she’d learned of DCSS through Recently, the San Bernardino a class she attended, likely one of Superior Court tentatively the virtual informational meetings approved the reunification. Woloshin did that summer due to Having regained custody of her COVID restrictions. daughters, Mary awaits a March “She was very upset,” hearing at which the arrangement Woloshin recalls of her initial is expected to become final, without contact with Mary. “She was her owing, or having been subjected distressed about the amount being Barbara Woloshin to, any court-ordered child support. asked of her. ... She told me she was Child support specialist, San The support cases against both dads are attempting to get her children back.” Bernardino County DCSS ongoing. Mary, who is in her early 40s, had lost Mary provides for her children now, not custody of her daughters, ranging in age from in child support payments, but living together 9 to 17, weeks before. as a happy family again. The father of the eldest daughter works for a school district. The younger daughters’ father is believed to be a truck driver. Individual child support cases * This is not the client’s real name. were opened against all three She approved use of her story, but parents by the custodial party, the declined comment and certain details foster care system. are being omitted to protect her and In her July 13 phone call, Mary her family’s privacy. described herself as hopeless. “She didn’t know what to do,” PHOTO COURTESY OF BARBARA WOLOSHIN
She was very upset. She was distressed about the amount being asked of her … She didn’t know what to do.”
4 | LET US HELP YOU GET THERE | San Bernardino County Department of Child Support Services
DID YOU KNOW… DCSS can do all the record-keeping and payment arrangements so you can focus on being a parent. By using DCSS, there is no need to interact with your former partner and never any dispute of when and how much child support was paid. • Parents paying child support can pay online, by mail, by phone or at a local child support office. DCSS keeps track of your payment history, which you can access online through Customer Connect. • Parents receiving child support can register for Direct Deposit (receiving funds directly into your checking or savings account), an Electronic Pay Card (that can be used anywhere Mastercard is accepted) or have a bank check mailed to your home address.
