How did Sonoma County become California’s leader in cooperative child support agreements? By choosing empathy over courtroom battles.
For the second consecutive year, the Sonoma County Department of Child Support Services leads California in helping parents reach stipulated agreements — arrangements established cooperatively without adversarial courtroom battles. In 2024 alone, 58% of Sonoma County’s child support cases ended with these voluntary agreements, more than twice the state average of 23%.
Supervisor Lynda Hopkins, Chair of the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors, credits the county’s commitment to family-focused solutions for this success. “Our County’s commitment to putting families first is making a real difference,” Hopkins said. “We’re helping parents find common ground and are giving children the stability they deserve. These are quiet but powerful successes that shape lives for the better.”…