On October 1, 2008, the Suquamish Tribe received a federal child support grant to plan, design and establish a child support enforcement program.  We are pleased to note that this funding is for a two year span in the amount of $500,000.  The Tribe has hired Bill Paine as the Child Support Program Manager.

In these two years, we will be designing a program that specifically serves and benefits Suquamish tribal members.  There will be public meetings announced in the near future to give tribal  members a chance to discuss  items that the tribal community would like to see included in the program.  Please check the newsletters for announcements on when and where those meetings will be held.

At the end of our two year planning grant, we will begin processing tribal child support cases under the Tribe’s own child support program.

During the next two years while the Tribe is setting up its child support program, the State’s Division of Child Support will continue to assist tribal members’ child support cases. Dian Speer from the Fife Office is the Tribal Liaison assigned to Suquamish cases. Dian is available to help establish child support orders, modify an existing child support order, or for collecting child support. Dian will be at Safe Havens every second Monday of the month from 8:30 AM – 3:30 PM.

On any other business day, you can contact Bill Paine at Safe Havens to answer your questions or provide help with your child support issues; his phone number is 394-8646.