County celebrates Child Support Awareness Month; distributes free backpacks to students, professional clothing to parents entering/re-entering workforce

County celebrates Child Support Awareness Month; distributes free backpacks to students, professional clothing to parents entering/re-entering workforce

July 29, 2024

SOLANO COUNTY - During the month of August, the Solano County Department of Child Support Services (DCSS), in recognition of Child Support Awareness Month, will coordinate with the Solano County Office of Education (SCOE), to donate 125 back-to-school ready backpacks for children. Additionally, DCSS, in partnership with the Solano County Family Justice Center (SFJC), will work together to distribute back-to-work professional clothing for parents entering or re-entering the workforce.

The backpacks are intended to help support children and their families as they return to school this fall. Each backpack will come with several essential school supplies, including crayons, rulers, pencils, erasers, spiral notebooks, scissors, and glue sticks. Providing the essentials needed to start the school year off on the right foot is a shared goal between the County DCSS, SCOE and the SFJC.

GETTING A FREE BACKPACK
SCOE Foster and Homeless Youth Services will work with school districts and partner agencies to directly distribute backpacks and school supplies to children in foster care, and to children who are experiencing homelessness. SFJC will provide backpacks to customers beginning August 7, 2024, at 604 Empire Street in Fairfield between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday - Friday, while supplies lasts. One backpack per child will be provided. There are a variety of colors of backpacks to choose from.

BACK TO WORK CLOTHING DRIVE
DCSS, in coordination with the SFJC, will be participating in a back-to-work professional clothing drive to assist parents entering or re-entering the workforce. Donations of gently used business casual and business professional clothing can be dropped off at the Department of Child Support Services, 675 Texas St, STE 5700 in Fairfield. We recognize that it can be expensive and overwhelming when preparing to enter or reenter the workforce, so we are hoping to help ease some of that burden for individuals.

ABOUT CHILD SUPPORT AWARENESS MONTH
Solano County DCSS joins all of California's 58 counties and the nation in recognition of August 2024 as Child Support Awareness Month. This year's theme is Shelter, Safety and Solutions. During Child Support Awareness Month, it is important to remember that every family, in all their diverse shapes and sizes, can access resources to provide shelter and safety to their kids. The Solano DCSS is here to provide the solutions and support to help make that happen.

INTERESTED IN DONATING / GETTING INVOLVED
If you are interested in donating to either initiative, contact Tara Knobbe, Child Support Specialist, Supervising, at (707) 784-3788 and/or [email protected].

ACCESSING SERVICES / QUESTIONS
Visit the Solano County DCSS website at https://www.SolanoCounty.com/Depts/DCSS for more information and for clients to link directly to DCSS support professionals. Direct any questions to [email protected], text (707) 241-4201 and by phone at (866) 901-3212.

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