Counties across Ohio will reach out to the Hispanic population this summer as part of child support awareness activities. It’s estimated that there are more than 50,000 Hispanics in Greater Cincinnati.
In Hamilton County, we have begun distributing new brochures produced in Spanish by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Child and Families/Office of Child Support Enforcement.
We learned while meeting with social service partners that many Spanish-speaking people will be unable to read the brochures. They’re illiterate not just in English. They can’t read in any language.
However, the brochures will help educate those who work with this population. It will allow them to share accurate information about this vital program.
Child support is important because it can help a single parent pay for a child’s food and clothes, medical care and health insurance, housing, education, child care and more.
Also, child support services help custodial parents find their child’s other parent, which may involve him or her in raising the child.
According to the Office of Child Support Enforcement, research shows that children who grow up with two active, caring parents are more likely to:
• Do well in school.
• Have strong morals and self-esteem.
• Get along well with others.
• Have good mental health
• Keep jobs and earn more money
• Feel more connected to their heritage
• Be successful with their own families.
If you would like some of the brochures, please contact our Communications office at boehmm@jfs.hamilton-co.org. We appreciate your help as we reach out to this population.
