Voices from Across My Office: Child Support Services Division
At the Office of the Attorney General, we’re proud of the broad array of work we do on behalf of the District, and the hundreds of employees who make our agency run. “Voices from Across My Office” is a blog series highlighting some of the people behind our efforts and the variety of work they do to support, defend, and stand up for District residents. This week’s spotlight is on the Child Support Services Division.
About the Child Support Services Division
The Child Support Services Division is responsible for establishing and enforcing child support orders for custodial and non-custodial parents. Our attorneys, workforce development specialists, investigators, and staff simultaneously recover money and connect parents with the resources they need to become self-sufficient and support healthy families. CSSD’s goal is to ensure all District children and families have the resources they need to grow and thrive.
Divided into four sections — Legal & Integrated Services, Shared Services, Office of the Director, and Fiscal Services — CSSD staff is comprised of many native Washingtonians. CSSD is unique because it maintains a dedicated policy team that coordinates with local and federal partners to ensure the needs of the District’s child support system are being met.
Below are some of the extraordinary and mission driven people that make up our Child Support Services Division.
Staff Spotlights
Name: Isaiah Davis
Title: Workforce Development Specialist
Time at OAG: 2.5 years
Tell us about your role at OAG. What does a workforce development specialist do?
People think of Child Support and they think it’s all about collecting money. But that’s putting the cart before the horse. You can’t collect money from people who can’t work because they need mental health care, education, housing, and workforce development training. So, it’s my job to meet people where they are, connect them with services, and build them up so they can support themselves and their children.
How does connecting people to services work in practice?
I’ll give you an example. Every Friday at 10:00 a.m., I host a virtual “Barbershop” for the people in the community I work with (we used to do it in-person before COVID-19). If you’ve ever been to a Black barbershop, you know that it’s a place that can get raw, authentic, and sometimes heavy. So, I bring in mental health specialists, groups like Bread for the City, or lawyers from Legal Aid to educate people about their rights.
To me, it’s about meeting people where they are on their own terms and then listening to what they have to say.
What brought you to this kind of work?
God. And the proof of that is my educational background. I went to Morgan State University and got an accounting degree. Yet, I ended up here, largely, by accident.
Because at the end of the day, 99% of the people I serve and work with are Black men. So, I’m just a Black man trying to uplift and save as many Black men as I can. Some people don’t get a paycheck for that kind of work — I’m blessed that I do.
It seems like part of your job requires you taking on a quasi-mentor role for the men you work with. How do you approach that?
There’s a quote out there that goes something like, “You cannot be what you cannot see.” I go into this work knowing that so many of these men don’t know who to go to for help or don’t have an example to look to for what it means to be a supportive father. And I’m a Black father myself — so I inevitably end up taking on that mentor role to help lift these men up.
If you could have dinner with any person in the world, who would it be?
Hands down, my mother. She passed away when I was 19 and she was just an incredible woman who put me on a path to success — before I even realized it. I’d love to have dinner with her and share with her all the work I’ve been doing. Probably, even ask her for some advice.
Name: Diana Baquero-Stagg
Title: Assistant Attorney General
Time at OAG: 6 years
Tell us about your path to being a lawyer.
Out of college, I worked at a financial services company. It was a good job and experience — but I knew I couldn’t do it forever. Simultaneously, I volunteered in a domestic violence shelter doing intake work for the attorneys. I was hooked instantly because deep down I always wanted to do something that helped people, particularly women and families. After that experience, I knew I wanted to go law school and do public interest work.
Describe your current position at OAG and how it impacts District residents.
I am in court litigating at least 80% of the time — establishing, modifying, and enforcing child support orders for parents. My goal is to ensure that children receive the financial support they need to grow and prosper. We try to go about this in a balanced way by holistically evaluating what non-custodial parents can pay and working with both sides to reach the best resolution for the child.
What kind of legal work did you do before coming to OAG?
I worked at the Philadelphia Legal Aid as a staff attorney. In that role, I did a little bit of Child Support work. However, I primarily did custody and orders of protection cases. It was an excellent experience to learn different aspects of family law.
Are you involved in any organizations outside of work?
Yes, I’m actively involved in the local chapter of the Hispanic Bar Association. I’m the co-chair of the social committee where I help plan quarterly meet ups for Latino lawyers in the area. I think it’s important for us to stay connected in the profession.
Name: Karen Mimms
Title: Investigator
Time at OAG: 15 years
What does an investigator in the Child Support Services do?
It’s my job to locate and go out and serve custodial and non-custodial parents who have been required to appear in court for a paternity test, modifications, contempt, and terminations of Medicaid. To be clear, this is not a 9 to 5 job. Sometimes, I’m out at 5 in the morning or 10 at night, on foot, serving subpoenas and motions for people to appear in court. No day is truly the same but if field investigators are not out here doing our job, children don’t eat — period.
Did you have a previous job related to investigative type work that helps you in your current role?
Yes. Before coming to OAG I was a Police Aide with MPD for nearly a decade. I worked there as a cellblock technician.
What drew you to a career in law enforcement?
It’s really two reasons. For one, I’m a survivor of a sexual assault. And I was determined to turn that experience into something positive where I could support survivors of crime, assist in solving those crimes, and work to prevent them from happening in the first place. As for my role at OAG, I was a recipient of child support growing up — so I know firsthand the impact this has on a child’s ability to eat and prosper.
I’m also proud that I just received my associates degree in law enforcement last May from UDC. It was a long time coming, but I was glad to finally make that step for my career.
What can we find you doing on the weekends in your spare time?
If I’m not hanging out with one of my 5 kids, you can probably find me playing spades with friends and family.
Name: Emily Charlap
Title: Policy Analyst
Time at OAG: 6 years
Tell us about your background and what brought you to OAG?
I wore a few different hats in the policy and advocacy world before I came to OAG. I did work on campaigns, on the Hill, as well as with a national women’s non-profit relating to peace and security. Throughout those experiences, my portfolio included a wide range of policy issues, particularly federal legislation relating to appropriations and programs that help at-risk and marginalized people.
I always enjoyed working on issues relating to vulnerable populations, but I was interested in how these policies are implemented at the local level. That’s what brought me to OAG.
So, what does implementation look like on the local level?
It involves a lot of relationship management with people who come from different political, ideological, and professional backgrounds. I’m constantly tracking new policy developments and coordinating with federal and local partners to ensure OAG is complying with new laws and that our staff at CSSD have the necessary tools to serve the families of the District.
While I didn’t do implementation work before OAG, my previous jobs taught me a lot about how to manage different personalities and competing interests. And more importantly, I learned the value of listening and trying to understand the viewpoints of people with different backgrounds and experiences.
What does your typical day look like?
It varies — primarily because my role involves both external and internal work. On the external side, I bridge the gap between what the federal government and the District of Columbia Council requires OAG-CSSD to comply with. Given the unique status of the District, I work closely with our federal partners to explain the specific needs of our city and the populations we serve.
On the internal side, I manage federal grant money, write, and edit internal policies to ensure compliance with various federal and local laws, and coordinate our language access resources to ensure all District residents receive the same level of service regardless of their primary language.
What do you like to do for fun?
I like to stay active. I recently received my Level 1 CrossFit Coaching Certification and I play co-ed softball every Sunday. I am also a cat mom to a blind and deaf cat named Zinfandel — so I spend a lot of time taking care of and smothering Zin, probably to her great annoyance!
