Behind Every Case Is a Story: Challenges, Rewards and Dedicated Professionals

Behind Every Case Is a Story: Challenges, Rewards and Dedicated Professionals

Author: NCSEA April 23, 2025 Duration: 36:27

On today’s program, Scott Eder (Courtland Consulting) continues talking with dedicated professionals who navigate complex cases, balance legal and emotional challenges and make a real difference in families lives every day.  Listen as Scott hosts an engaging conversation with Gretchen Smith (Deputy Director of Establishment for Westmoreland County Domestic Relations in Pennsylvania).  Gretchen shares how she got started in child support, and worked her way up the ranks from caseworker, to Deputy Director of Establishment.  She talks about making a difference in the lives of individuals, and the appreciation and gratitude received from parents when they receive payments; and also some challenges and rewards of the job.


Ever wonder what happens when you pull a microphone out at a conference or a community meeting? That's the spirit of NCSEA On Location. Instead of polished studio sessions, this podcast captures conversations where they naturally happen-in hallways after a panel, at international gatherings, or in quiet corners of bustling events. You'll hear directly from Human Services professionals, from caseworkers to policy architects, along with advocates and community stakeholders who are deeply involved in the system. The discussions are immediate and grounded, offering a raw, unfiltered look at the challenges and innovations in public service. Each episode feels like you’ve stepped into a meaningful, spontaneous dialogue, one that continues long after the formal agenda ends. The authentic atmosphere is even complemented by original music from Joe Mamlin, whose granted compositions frame these real-world recordings. Brought to you by NCSEA, this series is for anyone curious about the human stories behind government services, preferring the sound of genuine exchange over a rehearsed script. Tune in to a podcast that truly travels, bringing you voices from the field exactly as they were heard on the ground.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

NCSEA On Location
Podcast Episodes
Re-Entry from Incarceration: The Complexities and Challenges [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:15
On today’s podcast, Scott Eder (Courtland Consulting) sitsdown with James Younge (Manager, Networking for Jobs Program, Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas, Domestic Relations Division). They continue a conversatio…
AUG in the ATL:  A Preview of the 2025 NCSEA Leadership Symposium [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:43
This week’s On Location podcast features the two co-chairs of the NCSEA Leadership Symposium, Diane Potts (Co-founder and Director for the Center for Child Support Policy, prior NCSEA President and former member of the N…
Combining Human Talents with Professional Skills in Child Support [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:28
On today’s program, On Location brings you a conversationwith Mary Ann Wellbank who has made such significant contributions to the child support program and NCSEA. Hosted by Pat O’Donnell of YoungWilliams, Mary Ann share…
The New NTCSA Newsletter -- Connections:  Tribal Child Support News [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:38
On this week’s program, join Tim Lightner (eWorld Enterprise Solutions Inc.) as he welcomes Bill Woods (Vice President, National Tribal Child Support Association) to the On Location studio. Bill joins us to share about h…
The Future of Artificial Intelligence in Child Support [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:47
On this week’s program, Tim Lightner (eWorld Enterprise Solutions Inc.) welcomes Michael Hyzy (CGI Technologies and Solutions Inc.) to the On Location studio. Michael shares about himself, his career, and about his passi…
Inside Child Support: Caseworker Stories from Michigan [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:59
On this episode of On Location, and the continued caseworker series, Scott Eder sits down with Helen Miles, a Child Support Professional with over 31 years of experience at the Calhoun County Friend of the Court in Michi…
Inside Child Support: Caseworker Stories from Ohio [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:32
What's it really like to be a child support caseworker anyway? In this episode, host Scott Eder (Courtland Consulting) sits down with Ohioan Amber Arter (Support Officer at CSEA, Franklin County Child Support) where she…