CSSD Director Benidia Rice recently received the “Exemplary Service” award from the federal Office of Child Support Enforcement Commissioner Margot Bean. Ms. Rice was recognized for her 15 years of service in child support and for the significant improvement she has helped bring about to the District with the support and efforts of the talented staff at CSSD. She was honored for the real difference her energy and vision have made.

Her help in improving performance, enhancing customer service, getting the agency out of penalty status, and improving data reliability were noted. Her efforts to streamline the program and make it more efficient by bringing in some functions into the division were also recognized.

Ms. Rice was also recognized for developing key partnerships to further the child support program’s agenda. CSSD is currently collaborating with several Federal and District agencies including the Child and Family Services Agency, DC Superior Court, Income Maintenance Administration, Medicaid Assistance Administration, Bureau of Prisons, Department of Corrections and Department of Employment Services. She has worked hard to build bridges with these agencies.

The award was given as part of the Office Child Support Enforcement’s 18th National Training Conference, “Beyond the Bench: Partnering for Excellence in Child Support through the Courts, Fatherhood, and Employment Initiatives.” Other recipients of exemplary service awards included another child support director, a federal policy expert, and a private business.

Several CSSD staff attended and/or presented at the conference, and the reports on the quality of the workshops were very positive all around. The conference focused on how child support agencies can better partner with courts and how they can help non-custodial parents find work.