Press Release

Board of Supervisors Appoints Lynn Miller

Director of Child Support Department

Date: December 20, 2000

Release: Immediately

Contact: Dinah Phillips

Public Information Officer, 454-3408

Mardi Wormhoudt, Chair of the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors, announced the appointment of Lynn C. Miller as the Director of Child Support Services. Mr. Miller will assume his new position on January 1, 2001. He was selected from a competitive pool of candidates identified through a national recruitment for the position.

Mr. Miller has 37 years of related experience in a variety of management positions with the County and in the community. Mr. Miller began working for the County as a institutional supervisor in the Juvenile Hall in 1969. During his eighteen years with the Probation Department, he served as a Probation Officer for both juveniles and adults and as the Division Director of the Juvenile Division. Mr. Miller was appointed Division Director at the Human Resources Agency in 1993, where he has been responsible for developing, administering, and evaluating the Benefits Services Division. He has also served as the Executive of Fenix Services and the Administrator of McDowell Youth Homes.

The Child Support Department was created as a result of State legislation enacted in 1999-00 which required that local family support agencies administered by District Attorneys be transferred to new separate and independent county departments. Responsibility for child support enforcement in Santa Cruz County will be transferred from the District Attorney's Office to the Child Support Department on January 1, 2001.

As the Director of the Child Support Department, Mr. Miller will be responsible for collecting funds for the support of children from their absent parents. He will direct investigative and legal services related to child support services, and will be responsible for all aspects of revenue collection. He will supervise a staff of 78.75 and a budget of more than $6 million.

Mr. Miller said, "I am very pleased to have this opportunity to serve the residents of Santa Cruz County. My goal is to build upon the knowledge and experience of the existing staff as we work together to develop a proactive, innovative, and positive program. I am excited about this new challenge, and I believe that we will make a significant difference in the lives of thousands of children and families in our community."

In making the announcement, Supervisor Wormhoudt said, "I am very pleased to welcome Mr. Miller as the Director of the Child Support Department. He is a proven manager with an excellent ability to lead an organization in transition. He is able to work with all segments of the community, is exceptionally hard working and committed to the County, and his subject matter expertise is excellent. He brings a broad and diverse experience to the position, and I am certain that he will serve the Board of Supervisors and the residents of this community well."