About KCSEA

In the mid 1980’s, the Kansas Child Support Services Administration team, consisting of Jim Robertson, Randy Barker, and Jamie Corkhill, recognized communication and information sharing between child support, the judiciary, court trustee and contractors had to be improved for the program to be successful. The federal government had just mandated each state establish a child support commission, which included judges and legislatures, to develop data driven support guidelines and procedures to benefit children. KS CSS Administration felt this group could serve as a basis for an ongoing organization comprised of child support for professionals to improve communication and ease tension and misunderstandings between all parties.

To move this idea forward, KS child support partnered with Kaye (Billeaux) Farley of the Office of Judicial Administration (OJA) to take the lead in the development of an association to meet the program’s needs. The Kansas Child Support Enforcement Association (KCSEA) developed as an outgrowth of the Governor's Commission on Child Support Enforcement that was established in January 1985. As the term of the Governor's Commission on Child Support Enforcement was coming to an end, several members of the commission expressed an interest in establishing a standing professional association that would continue some of the work begun by the commission. The Office of Judicial Administration (OJA) took the lead in the development of such an association. Kay (Billeaux) Farley contacted the National Child Support Enforcement Association (NCSEA) for information about establishing a state charter. She also invited members of the Governor's Commission on Child Support Enforcement and other interested parties to an organizational meeting to discuss establishment of a professional association.

The first planning meeting was held on May 18, 1987, at the Kansas Judicial Center, Topeka, Kansas. Subsequent planning meetings were held. Larry Rute took primary responsibility for drafting the Articles of Incorporation and the Bylaws. The Articles of Incorporation were filed on behalf of the Kansas Child Support Enforcement Association, Inc. on October 20, 1987. The incorporators met on October 21, 1987 to appoint officers and standing committees. The officers and members of the Board of Directors were appointed to serve until the first annual meeting of the association. The First Annual Conference of the Kansas Child Support Enforcement Association (KCSEA) was held on Friday, September 23, 1988 at the Ramada Inn, Topeka, KS. Jim Robertson took primary responsibility for planning the agenda. The first officers were elected for association at the annual business meeting.

Officers: 

· President – Donald Amrein

· President Elect – Audie Magana

· Vice President – Lorrie Bezinque

· Secretary – Ruth Pfeifer

· Treasurer - Diane Nusbaum

Board of Directors:

· Kay (Billeaux) Farley

· The Honorable James Buchele

· Dennis Hoffman

· Teresa Nuckolls

· Jim Robertson

· Patty Gibbs

· Keith Hoffman

· Anne McDonald

· Nancy Meacham

KCSEA’s conference remained an annual training and networking opportunity to benefit the education of child support employees from 1988-2013. In 2013, the Kansas IV-D Child Support Services program began privatization. Due to a lack of state funding, the KCSEA conference was put on hold; however, the Association remained active by awarding scholarships, disbursing informational and educational newsletters, and ensuring the Kansas Corporation Code was kept up to date.

In 2022, Ali Robertson, daughter of Jim Robertson, took the lead on reestablishing the KCSEA Board using the established Bylaws as a guide. Board members who were on the 2013 KCSEA Board were asked if they wanted to hold their position with the Association and the vacant positions were filled with a diverse child support knowledge base. The association continues to grow and thrive. Committed individuals are working together for the improvement of child support service efforts in Kansas.

Education - KCSEA will hold annual conferences to provide education, share best practices, and learn about child support program changes. 

Collaboration - To provide child support professionals and partners with opportunities to network and exchange knowledge.

Progress - The newly reestablished KCSEA Board will reach an efficient cadence of activity, focusing on reintroducing the Associate to Kansas Child Support professionals, identifying their needs, and growing the KCSEA membership.