Right Choice Program helps parents support their children

The Washington County Attorney’s office is excited to introduce the Right Choice Program, a new and unique partnership between the Washington County Attorney’s child support office, Washington County Courts and the Kentucky Career Center – Lincoln Trail.

The program offers job search assistance to parents who have been unable to consistently make child support payments because they have not been able to find employment. The program will assist these parents in searching for jobs, resume building, interview skills and job training in an effort to ensure they are able to financially support their children.

The Right Choice Program will be mandated to parents who are ordered to appear in court because of delinquent child support payments and who are unable to make payments because of unemployment or underemployment.

“One of the most unique things about the program is that these court-ordered participants will not even have to leave the courthouse for their initial assessment,” said Washington County Attorney Bill Robinson.

On the days when Washington County District Court handles child support cases, a Kentucky Career Center – Lincoln Trail career counselor will immediately enroll and assess program participants at the courthouse.

“We want to help job seekers explore their career and training options, prepare for a successful job search and connect them with local employers,” said Terri Thomas with Kentucky Career Center – Lincoln Trail in Lebanon. “And our services are free to all job seekers including the Right Choice Program participants.”

Programs such as Right Choice normally are tested and initiated in large counties, but child support enforcement in Frankfort has embraced the program and found Washington County is the perfect testing ground, Robinson said. The program, which has no costs to the participants, courts or county government is expected to yield positive results.

Circuit Court Clerk JoAnne Mudd Miller said the program, while adding a new layer to the process, would not disrupt the court docket in any way.

“This program is a great opportunity to not only help people find employment, but also to assist these parents in supporting their children, which, at the end of the day, is the reason for child support and the mission of child support enforcement at all levels,” Robinson said.