Oneida County Recognizes Child Support Awareness Month

Oneida County has been recognizing Child Support Awareness Month all August long, highlighting the vital role the county’s Child Support Program plays in supporting local families, reducing poverty and promoting self-sufficiency.

“Child Support Awareness Month is an opportunity to educate our community about the services available and to honor the dedicated professionals who work tirelessly to help families,” said Oneida County Executive Anthony J. Picente Jr. “This program has a profound impact on the lives of thousands of children and parents, and we are proud of the progress and innovation our Child Support Unit continues to lead.”

The Child Support Program assists families by establishing parentage and modifying, collecting and enforcing support and medical support orders. As family structures evolve, Oneida County’s child support professionals continue to adapt to better serve families with care and efficiency.

As the nation marks the 50th anniversary of the Child Support Program, Oneida County is proud to reflect on its achievements and contributions:

• In 2024, the Oneida County Child Support Unit collected $20,302,921 in support payments.
• The program maintained an average caseload of 10,519 cases throughout the year.
• Oneida County was the first county in New York State to receive an online enrollment application as part of the state testing phase. Since its statewide launch on March 26, 2025, the county has already processed 33 online applications.
• Staff participated in the federal SAVES (Safe Access for Victims’ Economic Security) demonstration project, leading to the statewide implementation of Family Safety Screening Forms on June 2, 2025. Locally, the county worked with the YWCA to update policies ensuring immediate attention for clients with urgent needs.
• The Child Support Unit hosted its first group of student interns through The Arc’s College Works program, fostering career development and community engagement.

As a public display of recognition, the Oneida County Office Building and parking garage in downtown Utica have been illuminated green throughout August. In addition, the county has hosted community outreach tabling events every Tuesday from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. outside of the County Office Building. The Child Support Unit hosted an employee social last week and an appreciation luncheon is being held in honor of its staff this week.

“Child support is more than a financial resource — it’s a lifeline for many families in our community,” said Colleen Fahy-Box, Commissioner of the Oneida County Department of Family and Community Services. “Our staff is committed to ensuring children have the stability they need to succeed, while helping parents build pathways toward self-sufficiency. I’m incredibly proud of the dedication and compassion our Child Support Unit demonstrates every day.”