State honors Sonoma County for excellence in child support services

The Sonoma County Department of Child Support Services has again been recognized by the State of California for outstanding performance, earning top honors among California’s mid-sized counties for helping families establish child support, encouraging parents to reach agreements outside the courtroom, and quickly delivering financial support to children. 

The California Department of Child Support Services recognized Sonoma County as the top-performing agency among 14 mid-sized counties in three key measures during the 2025 federal fiscal year:

• Helping families establish child support:3% of cases resulted in a legally established child support order, the highest rate among similar-sized counties. 
• Helping parents reach agreements:4% of cases ended with parents voluntarily agreeing on child support without contested court proceedings, the highest rate among counties of any size in California. The result continues a more than decade-long trend in Sonoma County, where a majority of child support cases have ended with stipulated orders since 2014. 
• Getting support to families sooner: Families received their first child support payment an average of 202 days after opening a case, the fastest among mid-sized counties. 

“These achievements reflect the County’s commitment to helping families resolve child support matters in ways that reduce conflict and put children’s needs first,” said Supervisor Rebecca Hermosillo, chair of the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors. “When parents can work together and families receive the support they need, children have greater stability and families can focus on building a brighter united future, that benefits our entire community.” 

The Department of Child Support Services serves as a neutral third party that helps parents establish parentage, locate noncustodial parents, obtain and enforce child support orders, and ensure children receive the financial support and medical care to which they are entitled. By helping parents reach voluntary agreements whenever possible, the department reduces the need for lengthy court proceedings while encouraging long-term cooperation between parents. Its services are provided at no cost to families. 

In 2025, the department managed nearly 9,000 child support cases and distributed $31 million in support to families throughout Sonoma County. 

“Our goal is to make the child support process more accessible, supportive and responsive to the unique needs of each family,” said Gigi Mertle, director of the Sonoma County Department of Child Support Services. “We’re proud to be recognized for work that has a meaningful impact on children’s lives.” 

The Board of Supervisors will recognize the department’s accomplishments with a Gold Resolution at its Aug. 28 meeting in observance of Child Support Awareness Month. Throughout August, the department is engaging parents and community organizations to connect more families with child support services. Staff will participate in community outreach events, meet with local organizations and distribute educational resources to help families understand the department’s services and how to access them. 

To learn more about the Department of Child Support Services or to open a case, visit sonomacounty.gov/health-and-human-services/child-support-services or call (866) 901-3212. 

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Media Contact: 
Ted Appel, Communications Specialist 
publicaffairs@sonomacounty.gov 
(707) 565-3040 
575 Administration Drive, Suite 104A 
Santa Rosa, CA 9540

Staff with the Sonoma County Department of Child Support Services gather April 27, 2026, to launch the department’s new mobile office, part of the County’s Open Doors Mobile Services initiative designed to bring services directly into communities.