Strengthening Families through Child Support

CHFS Community Podcast

Walking down the streets of San Francisco, today’s guest heard Italian, Japanese, Chinese, Spanish and many other languages growing up. It was a desire to bring people together that propelled Child Support Enforcement Division Director Lily Chan Patteson to become a mediator in sixth grade. Later on, an undergraduate degree in criminal justice led to law school in Kentucky, where she has lived ever since. Patteson says her appointment by Commissioner Steve Veno after the birth of her second child was a leap of faith, but she has never looked back. Today’s discussion ranges from Patteson’s accomplishments to child support services, balancing work and family, travel and the 2022 Fatherhood Summit. We also talk about employee resource groups as a way to raise cultural awareness and create a sense of belonging in state government.