DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2005
CONTACT: Alisa DeMers, DSS Information Officer, (605) 773-3609

Division of Child Support Improves Customer Service,
Changes Its Name

PIERRE, S.D. – To improve customer service, the South Dakota Department of Social Services’ Division of Child Support (DCS) has implemented a new centralized customer service unit, according to Division Director Terry Walter. 

“To help our clients obtain up-to-date information about their child support payments, DCS has an automated voice response system and a new centralized customer service unit that people can access toll-free from a touchtone phone,” Walter said. “People can now reach DCS at 1-800-286-9145.”

Customer service unit (CSU) representatives are available from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. (CST), Monday through Friday, to provide immediate responses to people’s questions about their child support cases or general questions they may have about the application or enforcement process. If CSU staff cannot address a particular question or concern, Walter said the issue is then forwarded to the person’s investigator. The unit is currently experiencing a volume of approximately 600 calls a day. 

DCS also provides an automated voice response system that is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. By using the automated voice response system, people can quickly obtain payment information about their child support case, Walter said. To access the system, people need to know their case number and personal identification number (PIN).

“By using our automated voice response system, people can easily get answers to the more common inquiries,” Walter said. “We encourage people to use the system as much as possible prior to speaking with a CSU representative.”

In addition to changing its phone system, the Division of Child Support (DCS) has changed its name from the Office of Child Support Enforcement (OCSE). Walter said the Division decided to drop the word “enforcement” from its name because the agency provides many different types of services for families in addition to enforcement activities.

“DCS helps families with so much more than just child support enforcement,” Walter said. “We also provide location services, paternity establishment, support order establishment and modification, and health insurance order establishment.”

To reflect the name change, DCS also has a new Web site address and email address. The Division’s new Web site address is www.state.sd.us/social/dcs and the new email address is dcs@state.sd.us. 

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