Carbon County recognized its domestic relations department for its work in providing families and children with emotional, financial and medical support.

The commissioners adopted a proclamation on Thursday naming August as Child Support Enforcement Awareness Month in the county.

This year marks the 47th anniversary of the Title IV-D Child Support program, which aims to improve the lives of children in Pennsylvania by assisting families through various programs and making child support a reliable source of income.

In Pennsylvania, the monthly support collection rate stands at 84.3 percent, which was approximately $1.16 billion disbursed to custodial parents in the fiscal year 2020-2021.

In Carbon County, the department collected just over $3.2 million in child support payments through the end of July.

Bridget Johnston, director of domestic relations in Carbon County, said that her office has received much-needed support from the county and the courts.

The department added a third enforcement officer, which allowed the department to decrease its caseload per officer ratio from more than 900 cases per officer to approximately 650 cases per officer.

Carbon County collects on average $500,000 in child support payments a month, but Johnston said that fluctuates based on cases, as well as personal history, including jobs, incarceration, and other factors.