The Power of Connection: Fresh Groups, Real Conversations

The Power of Connection: Fresh Groups, Real Conversations

Author: NCSEA July 29, 2026 Duration: 31:10

Welcome back to another episode of NCSEA On Location, coming to you from California and Alaska! I’m your host, Tim Lightner, and today we are diving into NCSEA Connects—a vital professional development and networking opportunity for child support professionals. Joining us to discuss its history, impact, and exciting expansion are Laura Van Buskirk (current Director of Placer County Department of Child Support Services, and Kathie Bohacek, Assistant Director of San Joaquin County Department of Child Support Services). Laura and Kathie explore what makes these interactive groups so unique and how you can get involved -- with three brand-new groups launching! 

NCSEA Connects | NCSEA


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: 50

NCSEA On Location
Podcast Episodes
The Next 50 Years: The Importance of Lifting Families Up (Part 2) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:51
The future of family support requires us to look far beyondtraditional numbers and system practices. In the conclusion of this special two-part feature, our national human services panel returns to explore how the evolvi…
The Next 50 Years: The Importance of Lifting Families Up (Part 1) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:22
The Title IV-D child support program was built in 1975 to recover welfare expenses, but the modern landscape demands a radical shift from enforcement to empowerment. In part one of this two-part feature, national human s…
On Location with Sacramento County: The HELP Behind NextGen [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:28
Join Mariellen Keely (Virginia DCSE) as she speaks withJennifer McGuire, Program Planner for Sacramento County Child Support Services, about their participation in the NextGeneration Child Support Employment Services Dem…
Nominate. Elevate. Celebrate. [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 18:08
Today’s On Location episode is brought to you by BrandiGallebo, Social Program Administrator over the Enforcement department at Franklin County Child Support in Columbus, Ohio and Pat O’Donnell of YoungWilliams. It is an…
A Little Appreciation Goes a Long Way [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:08
From Oregon to Ohio and down to Georgia, this episode of OnLocation explores a universal truth: a little appreciation goes a long way. Join Brandi Gallebo (Franklin County Child Support, Columbus, OH) as she addresses th…
The Road to DC: Vision, Perspectives, and the 2026 Policy Forum [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:47
Pack your bags—the child support community is headed to the nation's capital! In this episode of On Location, Tim Lightner and Betty Tegegne (Research Associate with the Center for Policy Research) catch up with 2026 Pol…