Transcript Staff Writer

The Cleveland County District Attorney's Office has been selected to receive an OKDHS Quality Award from the Oklahoma Department of Human Services for its innovative approach in blending the efforts of the Child Support Enforcement and Juvenile Divisions of the office.

The presentation ceremony, sponsored by the OKDHS Quality Awards Team, is May 7 at the Clarion Hotel in Oklahoma City.

According to Greg Mashburn, district attorney for Cleveland, McClain and Garvin counties, the DHS opens medical cases on children taken into state custody due to deprivation in the household.

When the medical case is opened, the Child Support Enforcement Division receives a referral to review and enter an order for the child and medical support as appropriate.

"Our Child Support Enforcement Division faces certain restrictions in processing these cases until the Juvenile Division of the District Court defers jurisdiction over these issues to CSED. These cases negatively impact the office's federal performance measures -- state and federal audit scores and most importantly provide poor customer service to the community," Mashburn said.

In early summer 2007, the Child Support Enforcement Division partnered with the Juvenile Division of the office in an attempt to overcome these barriers and create a workable and meaningful solution, Mashburn said.

From this partnership, the Cleveland County Child Support Juvenile Docket Initiative was born. The program was initiated by Sharon R. Sitzman, managing attorney of the Child Support Enforcement Division, and Office Manager Diana Jarman.

"The Oklahoma Department of Human Services has recognized the District 21 Child Support Enforcement Division of the Cleveland County District Attorney's office's dedication to children in the community by selecting the initiative to receive an OKDHS Quality Award for 2008," Sitzman said.

DHS also recognizes individual achievement from each office or contract office, referred to as the "Best of the Best."

"Our office has chosen Sarah Encinias, finance specialist, to receive this honor this year," Sitzman said.

Division employees also include Meredith Tipton, assistant district attorney, Juvenile Division; Mary Thompson, supervisor, Child Support Enforcement Division; and Margie Campbell, locate specialist, Child Support Enforcement Division.

"Receiving the award was especially gratifying as our efforts have proven that each family's unique situation affects the divisions' shared goal of improving the lives of children and families in our community," Mashburn said.

For more information, call the district attorney's office at 321-8268.

Tom Blakey 366-3540 tblakey@normantranscript.com