While the recession has made it more difficult to collect full child support payments, a report from the state department of health and human services shows Nevada County's child support department is faring well against other counties.

Midway through the fiscal year, the joint Sierra and Nevada County department ranks fourth in the state based on a number of performance standards — a jump from June 2009, when the joint counties ranked 16.

Nevada/Sierra counties have about 3,400 child support cases, while California overall has 1.6 million. A “case” encompasses all children born to a specific couple, meaning more than 1.6 million children are involved in the state's child support system.

Nevada/Sierra counties had the highest rate of “paternity establishments” in the state, meaning they were most successful at getting the father's identity on a child's birth certificate. That metric is up from last year, when the county ranked 39th in the state.

Since the two counties combined only register about 900 births a year — compared to counties such as Los Angeles, which registers 150,000 births a year — the jump represents only eight or nine more paternity confirmations than last year.

But the statistic is evidence of the department's increased collaboration with midwives, other social services, the public health department and the clerk-recorder's office. Those agencies also play a role in the process of confirming the father's identity.

“They're small numbers, but they're important,” said Tex Ritter, director of Sierra/Nevada Counties Child Support Department. “What we've done that's different is collaborate with other agencies. It's very successful when agencies work together.”

So far this year, Nevada/Sierra Counties have been collecting 63 percent of the child support money owed. That figure places the counties at rank 10 in the state, but handily above the state average of 55 percent.

The recession has complicated the collections process. As more parents cope with smaller paychecks, or are living off unemployment insurance benefits, the child support department has worked with courts to adjust the amount struggling parents have to pay.

Children get less money, but custodial parents are learning to accept that as the reality of the recession.

“It was tough at first, as single moms and dads realize they'll be getting less money,” Ritter said. “You obviously take it personal. But then you realize it's not just you — everyone's having a harder time.”

As parents struggle to pay the bills, teamwork between county social services agencies becomes more important, Ritter said.

The child support department works with OneStop Career Center to help parents land jobs. Even if wages are low and so are child support payments, it's better than no payment at all, officials say.

“Any little amount helps them,” Ritter said. “$50 a month is the difference between having an old hand-me-down jacket and a new one, or having duct tape on their shoes.”

To contact Staff Writer Michelle Rindels, e-mail mrindels@theunion.com or call (530) 477-4247.