August 3, 2006

PIERRE, S.D. - The Department of Social Services will distribute the latest version of South Dakota’s Most Wanted Poster: For Failure to Pay Child Support, featuring five of the state’s most evasive child support offenders.

“Failure to pay child support hurts South Dakota’s children and families,” said Department of Social Services Secretary Deborah K. Bowman. “Locating the individuals on this poster is important for the children who need their support to live safe and healthy lives.”

The poster, issued by the Department of Social Services (DSS), includes four men and one woman who owe, in total, more than $147,000 in back support to their children. The poster contains the individual’s photograph, physical descriptions, last known address, and the amount of child support owed.
           
According to Terry Walter, Division of Child Support Director, during state fiscal year 2006 (July 1, 2005 to June 30, 2006), the Division of Child Support:

• Collected $82.7 million in child support.
• Initiated more than 37,000 enforcement actions to collect child support payments on behalf of children and families.
• Established paternity for more than 3,400 children born out of wedlock.
• Established 2,000 new child support orders.
• Processed 2,700 support order modifications.

The Department of Social Services (DSS) distributes the posters to post offices, local law enforcement agencies, government offices and child support agencies in other states. The poster is available online at: http://dss.sd.gov/childsupport/ or to view it, click here.

People with information or tips on the whereabouts of those on the poster should call the Division of Child Support at (605) 773-3641 or send an email to dcs@dss.state.sd.us.