Professional Staff for the House Ways and Means Committee, specifically the subcommittee on Worker and Family Support (Democrat).

Responsible for overseeing the policy and rules development for the Division of Child Support, including formulation and revision ensuring compliance with state and federal policy and law. Working with management, staff, and stakeholders in development and implementation and publication of the support enforcement handbook.Responsible for coordinating legislative initiatives for the Division, including drafting reviewing, coordinating fiscal notes, meeting with legislators and staff, and implementation of legislation for the Division.Responsible for oversight of government relations, including Prosecuting Attorneys, tribes, the Federal Office of Child Support Enforcement , county court commissioners, county clerks, and the contractual relationships and budget relationships related to some of our government partnerships.Responsible for the formulation and revision of Washington’s State Plan for child support, which is a prerequisite for obtaining Title IV-D federal funding, in excess of $100 million, and to maintain the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grant, which is in excess of $400 million.Provide risk management through contract management, drafting of contracts and interagency agreements, litigation and tort claim oversight. Act as a liaison for the Office of the Attorney General, the Office of Administrator for the Courts, the Office of Administrative Hearings, and the Washington Association of Prosecuting Attorneys. This position is responsible for oversight of five different teams within the Policy unit including the Policy and Legal Team, the Training and Development Team, the Conference Board Unit, the Government Liaison and Contracts Team, and the Legislative Unit. In addition the Chief of Policy oversees the Virtual Legal Office which consists of over 30 Claims Officer attorneys located around the state and one of our 9 field offices as well as a legal support team.

Supervised the Policy and Legal team which consists of 5 attorneys and two program administrators. The Policy and Legal team is responsible for creating and maintaining policy and answering questions and investigating issues posed by Division staff, stakeholders, and Division partners. Responsible for statewide policy development in the administration of the child support program under Title IV-D of the Social Security Act. Exercised independent judgment in the areas of application of existing policy to specific cases, the extension of policy to new facts or situations where no policy exists or the facts result in a conflict between policies or the need for an exception to policy. Responsibilities include:-Directly accountable for making policy recommendations and making recommendations on how those decisions are best implemented taking into consideration impact on resources, including staff.-Directly accountable for making publications recommendations and making recommendations on how policies and the support enforcement handbook are best managed and displayed to be an effective tool for users.-Directly accountable for the management and control of the risk management of the Division for litigation, tort claims, and lawsuits against the Department by liaison activities with the Office of the Attorney General and the Office of Administrative Hearings.

Maintain statewide oversight of the Title IV-D program in the 39 counties of Washington State where Title IV-D child support funding is provided under federal and state law to the County Prosecuting Attorney Family Support Offices, Superior Court Clerks, Superior Court Family Law Commissioners, Court Facilitators, and Superior Court State contract Family Law Guardian ad Litem. Monitor compliance with federal requirements under Title IV-D of the Social Security Act and ensure that performance and audit standards are met. Ensure the consistency of the Division's message to local governments and ensure that the DCS Director and Chief of Policy are fully informed to assure decisions concerning local governments are made with a full understanding of the political, legal, and fiscal consequences of these decisions, as well as the concerns of local governments.Interpret and understand Washington State family law and child support laws, regulations, case law, and federal child support rules and procedures. Manage DCS contracts. Draft and negotiate the terms of interlocal and interagency agreements, reimbursement plans, and other agreements in partner local government agencies and statewide associations. Responsible for monitoring agreements, reviewing performance, and reimbursement of expenditures under these agreements. Directly review, recommend, and/or influence financial resources annually.Serve as a member of the Judicial Case Processing Task Force and the Washington Association of Prosecuting Attorney Appellate Coordinating Committee, the purpose of which is to develop best practices and recommendations for child support actions in judicial forums and to provide advice on child support related cases. Within the Policy Unit, continue to develop and write policy for the Division, specifically in issues relating to intergovernmental and international child support cases.

Conduct research and manage policy projects for Division of Child Support (DCS), under the Economic Services Administration, which involve comprehensive rules, policy, and forms necessary for division compliance with federal law and rules and state law regarding the Social Security Title IV-D program. Serve as legal advisor to division executive management and operational units including contracts, tribal, information technology, records management, payment processing and distribution, and child support collections. Act as the lead liaison for the division to the Office of the Attorney General and the Office of Risk Management on tort claim issues. Serve as the intergovernmental specialist and liaison to other states and governments on intergovernmental issues involving the Uniform Interstate Family Support Act (UIFSA). Provide written analysis of proposed legislation affecting DCS.Serve as a resource on policy issues for DCS staff, managers, and stakeholders and respond to questions from such sources as federal and other state authorities, Washington legislators and elected officials, department staff and management, division staff and management, and various statewide and national stakeholders. Analyze complex statutes, regulations, and policies at the federal, state, and agency level for impact on the Division. Determine the need for new rules, new policies or policy changes, and develops and implements policy changes or additions.Primary stateside responsibility for monitoring case law, litigation, and tort claims pending against the Division or affecting the Division for liability or impact on the Division.Presenter at the 2014 National Child Support Enforcement Association Annual Conference on the topic of UIFSA '96 and '01 in Portland, OR.Member of NCSEA International Subcommittee.

Researching the use of comparative law in the jurisprudence of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights.

Researched and analyzed legal issues surrounding the establishment and enforcement of judicial and administrative orders of child support. Argued civil contempt cases before a court commissioner. Negotiated with opposing counsel prior to and during court hearings for possible settlement.