Technology delays state checks
Computer system transition gets blame for tardy payments
The check is in the mail. Honest.
That’s the message from the Department of Social and Health Service’s Children Administration to providers of foster care, adoption services and other children’s service providers who haven’t received their February payments.
“In short, all February support payments should be in their hands by March 10,” said John Wiley, media relations manager for DSHS.
In the past week, several families who provide support to state-involved children said their February checks had not arrived.
They had been notified in January that the Children’s Administration was switching computer programs, but some of the families worried that the absent checks meant the state couldn’t afford February’s support payments.
Wiley explained: “The problem stemmed from our transition from the former CAMIS system to the new FamLink computer system which generates monthly payments to more than 65,000 providers.
“About 655 adoption support payments were not generated by the Social Services Payment System for February 2009, as well as invoices to 442 child care providers (statewide).”
If payments are not received by Tuesday, providers should contact the Children’s Administration service desk at HELP300@dshs.wa.gov or call (360) 412-3952.