Update: August 29, 2006
Kristina has not received her child support for August 2006. Kristina's father has missed so many payments, we have lost track of what she is entitled too. We have repeatedly informed the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (IDHFS). IDHFS cannot or will not get the court ordered child support payments enforced. Kristina's father receives money from our Social Security system. Kristina's father has never work or contributed any money to our Social Security system. Kristina's father has medical issues stemming from substance abuse and alcoholism. Our legislative government has determined child support payments cannot be taken from a person's Social Security income. It is my belief our legislature created this law thinking a person's Social Security income is isolated from debt collection. This is probably a good thing for those whose income is limited due to their inability to work. It was probably put in place because those individuals receiving Social Security contributed to the system. Nevertheless, this law should not be so overly broad as to include those who have not worked and who have not contributed to the system. We, the taxpayers, are also paying their medical bills. Something is definitely wrong with this picture. When Kristina does receive child support payments it is not through direct deposit has requested. My wife, Darlene Bouyer-Nance, submitted the appropriate documentation to IDHFS. We may be getting punished because we raise this issue for public viewing.
Update: August 12, 2006
Kristina has not received her child support money for August 2006. Her father is far behind in his payments. He receives social security benefits and possibly other benefits from the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services.
The Illinois legislature needs to seriously look for change in the child support laws, the social security insurance statutes, and public aid benefits. Individuals who are receiving social security benefits and public aid benefits due to illnesses brought about by substance abuse and alcoholism, who may have hardly had employment, should not be receive Social Security Benefits or any other benefits from the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services.
Many of these individuals also receive food stamps, financial support, and medicaid and/or medicare. Individuals who work hard everyday and have a family, when faced with unemployment cannot get food stamps, financial support, and medicaid and/or medicare if their unemployment benefits and family income from the spouse takes them beyond financial guidelines for receiving food stamps, financial benefits, and medicaid and/or medicare.
It appears most of this financial support for those who have hardly worked come from programs created for the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services. It appears these programs are created for those who do not want to work or who have issues of substance abuse and alcoholism, yet these programs are paid for by hard working taxpayers who cannot utilize them when they are unemployed. What should we do as taxpaying citizens?
Update: June 11, 2006
As of today, June 11, 2006, Kristiana has not received her child support payments. Mr. Barry Maram, Director of the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services, nor his employees has not informed us of why Kristina's child support payments are coming through the U.S. Mail instead of being a direct deposit into the bank account on file.
Update: May 13, 2006
On or about May 9, 2006 Kristina received a one month child support check, in the mail, for $100.00. We do not know what month this payment represents. Kristina's child support payments are supposed to be direct deposits. For some unknown reason to us, the last checks have been sent through the U.S. Mail.
Update: May 7, 2006
Kristina did not receive her May or April 2006 child support payment.
Update: April 6, 2006
Kristina did not receive her March 2006 child support payment. So far, Kristina has not received her April 2006 child support payment. I guess the system really does not work Mr. Blagojevich.
Update: March 22, 2006
Kristina has not received her child support for March 2006. Is anyone listening? I know Illinois' Cook County Central is monitoring my website at 8:30 am everyday. Are you listening? What are you looking for? Assist Kristina since you are interested in what I write.
Update: February 22, 2006
Kristina received her child support payment of $100.00 in the mail on February 21, 2006. Her father was ordered by the court to pay $25.00 a week in child support payments. Kristina's child support is supposed to come to her by electronic mail to her mother's bank account. This payment comes from the office of Comptroller Daniel W. Hynes, and countersigned by Judy Baar Topinka, Treasurer of Illinois. Shouldn't someone inform Kristina's mother why this child support did not travel through the channel she requested?
Kristina's child support court order also reports she should receive a penalty amount when the child support is late. Of course, the Illinois Department of Healthcare & Family Services and the State's Attorney's office report they cannot enforce the court order. Too bad for Kristina, but this is our present Illinois government in action.
As of February 14, 2006, Kristina has not received her child support for February.
November 26, 2005
Illinois Department of Healthcare & Family Services
Mr. Barry S. Maram, Director
201 South Grand Avenue
Springfield, Illinois 62763-0001
Re: 2004 D 650237 Darlene Bouyer-Nance (petitioner) vs. Lawrence Gaston (respondent) with child support for Kristina Gaston
Mr. Maram:
This is a follow-up to the 3 previous letters published and posted on http://clickforjusticeandequality.blogspot.com/, which this letter is also published and posted.
This is the 4th letter sent to your office requesting enforcement of a judicial court order demanding Mr. Lawrence Gaston pay child support every month, by the 3rd of the month, of $100.00 as ordered by the court. As of November 26, 2005, Kristina Gaston has not received her allotment of $100.00 for November 2005. This brings the total owed to Kristina to $450.00 using the figures submitted to us by your Acting Administrator, Pamela Compton, which is in your system’s database.
A letter dated September 6, 2005, addressed to my wife Darlene Bouyer-Nance, from Ms. Compton states, in part, “…Research shows that Cook County court order 2004D0650237 became effective August 13, 2004. This order obligates Mr. Gaston to pay $100.00 per month in current support for your child, Kristina Gaston…As of August 26, 2005, the balance due on your account is $350.00.” This does not include charges to Mr. Gaston for late fees as outlined in this court order.
Ms. Compton continues her statement, in part, “…Your desire to see legal consequences and penalties imposed on Mr. Gaston is acknowledged….While recommendations are made and specific penalties may be requested, the decision rests solely with the judge hearing the case on what penalties he or she will impose.” It appears no recommendations or penalties will arise because your office is punishing Kristina for bringing this to your attention and posting it to the Internet. In order to have this case brought before a judge, the Cook County States Attorney’s office must act.
Ms. Compton reports, “…These penalties are not imposable by the Division of Child Enforcement; they are judicial penalties. The failure to pay child support is a civil, not criminal, matter.” Mr. Maram, you need to change the name of your department from “Child Support Enforcement” to something else because it is surely not child support enforcement. Your department is not “enforcing” any child support court order in this matter. It is merely an entity to pass the buck.
My wife and I have attempted to address this issue in open court with Illinois’ Cook County State Attorney’s office, to no avail. A Cook County States Attorney presented this matter when the judicial court order became effective. It was not civil then, unless the Cook County States Attorney’s office handles civil matters. It would seem to us laymen the Illinois State Attorney’s office would work with your “Child Support Enforcement” in gathering the necessary remedies to comply with the judicial court order. It is ludicrous for the public to believe child support is enforceable by civil remedies paid out of the pockets of a child’s parents seeking enforcement of a judicial court order. It is ludicrous to believe this court order should be enforced through “civil” remedies. This is absurd.
We, the voting public, cannot depend on any promises from this administration under Governor Rod Blagojevich. As outlined in previous letters to you, Mr. Blagojevich has implemented new “laws” to supposedly crack down on “deadbeat” dads. If his new agenda means anything to his appointees, they should be active in implementing his strategies. It appears the only thing enforceable under this administration is retaliatory acts from this administration upon my family for bringing to the public’s attention the non-actions and ludicrous statements of this present government.
Mr. Gaston now lives with another daughter and her mother in Southern Illinois. Has Mr. Gaston alerted “your” system of moving his residence? He would not be hard to locate if research were done to find the mother of the other child who may be receiving some sort of public assistance. Mr. Gaston and his other child are using the “public aid” system to pay for their medical treatments. Mr. Gaston is seeing doctors who are billing the “public aid” system for his medical expenses. If I remember correctly, the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services is Public Aid now, isn’t it?
Nevertheless, it appears we are reaching your “magic” number of $500.00 for some sort of relief. At last count it seems Mr. Gaston owes $450.00. Ms. Compton reports, “The 9% interest for past due current support was also mentioned in your husband’s correspondence. At this time, our database is unable to calculate and add interest to account balances.” What a statement by a government entity that spends millions of taxpayer dollars!!! If the 9% were calculated, Kristina would be at $490.50. I did these calculations with a small hand-held calculator. Even so, Kristina is almost at your “magic” number of $500.00.
We, and probably the public who view my website, would like to know what will happen when Kristina reaches your “magic” number of $500.00. C.L.I.C.K. for Justice and Equality is being viewed as far as Australia, Africa, New Zealand, Germany, the United Kingdom, and Canada. People need to know how politics and nepotism work in Illinois. We, the people, need to know how “our” tax dollars are spent.
I would like to take you to an earlier statement made above, which Ms. Compton made, it is “The failure to pay child support is a civil, not criminal, matter. There is something seriously wrong with your department’s thinking. Unless it is what is commonly known as “mainstream” thinking. Mr. Barack Obama is familiar with this thinking. He believes in “mainstream” thinking. This must be the thinking of our Illinois Governor. How long does Kristina wait for justice, or is there no justice for the children of Illinois?
Respectfully submitted,
Fred L Nance Jr., ABD, MA, CADC, NCRS
cc: Mr. Rod Blagojevich, Governor of Illinois
Mr. Barack Obama, United States Senator of Illinois
Mr. James Meeks, Illinois Senator
Mr. David Miller, Illinois State Representative
Mr. Dick Devine, Illinois Cook County States Attorney
Ms. Colleen Glass, Illinois Cook County States Attorney Supervisor
Mr. Durman Jackson, Illinois Cook County States Attorney Supervisor
Ms. Barb Radtke
