HHS News Release

Federal Child Support Enforcement Commissioner Sherri Z. Heller, Ed.D., has been recognized by Federal Computer Week as one of the trade paper's top "Federal 100" executives for 2003. The annual award, chosen by an independent panel of judges, is presented to top executives from government, industry and academia having the greatest impact on the government information systems community. According to the paper, the awardees are chosen for the "difference (they) make in the way agencies and companies develop, acquire, manage and use information technology."

The child support enforcement program utilizes sophisticated information technology (IT) at both the federal and state levels. OCSE maintains a comprehensive database to assist state child support agencies in obtaining support for families and children. It also oversees the development of state IT systems required under federal law. Last year, over $20 billion was collected for children and families. Paternity was legally established for over 1.5 million children.

"Child support enforcement is a key component in our nation's effort to improve the lives of children. Under the leadership of Sherri Heller, the nation's child support program received the highest performance rating of all social service programs and block grant/formula programs reviewed government-wide to date by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). This award is richly deserved," said HHS Assistant Secretary for Children and Families Wade F. Horn, Ph.D.

Since improvements and capabilities authorized for the program by the 1996 welfare reform law were phased in a couple of years after the law's passage, collections are up 40 percent.

Prior to her appointment as child support Commissioner by President Bush in 2001, Heller served as Deputy Secretary for Income Maintenance with the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare, culminating an extensive career at the state and local level. In her current position, she is responsible for a program which provided services to 16 million families and collected $20 billion in child support payments in Fiscal Year 2002.

Contact: Chris Downing
ACF Press Office (202) 401-9215