#supportvakids by VA Division of Child Support
In this episode of #SupportVaKids, host Mariellen Keely sits down with Stacie Vecchietti, Policy Specialist with the Office of Trauma and Resilience Policy at the Virginia Department of Social Services. With more than 30 years of experience in social services, Stacie brings a deep and varied perspective shaped by her work in substance use counseling, anti-violence advocacy, Peace Corps service, and now, policy development focused on building trauma-informed and healing-centered systems across Virginia.
In this episode of #SupportVaKids, host Mariellen Keely sits down with Terry Gates, Senior Analyst on the Data Informs Team at Virginia Child Support. With over 30 years of service, Terry brings a unique blend of field experience, policy knowledge, and a deep commitment to using data to improve outcomes for families.
In this episode of #SupportVaKids, host Mariellen Keely sits down with Sheila Garden, Program Coordinator Senior with the Program Services team at Virginia Child Support—and a longtime public servant whose career has touched nearly every corner of the agency. As part of our TANF and VIEW series, Sheila reflects on her earlier roles as a case manager, paternity specialist, and intergovernmental expert, offering a firsthand look at how case management, support enforcement, and customer service all work together to serve families.
In this powerful episode of #SupportVaKids, host Mariellen Keely sits down with Shelita Gaskins, Senior Enforcement Specialist at the Central Virginia District Office—and the behind-the-scenes force that helps produce this very podcast. Shelita shares her full-circle story, from receiving TANF and participating in the VIEW program to building a career with Virginia Child Support and becoming a leader in her community.
In this episode of #SupportVaKids, host Mariellen Keely kicks off a special series exploring the intersection between child support and the VIEW program by talking with Annette Johnson, Senior Job Developer with Henrico County’s Department of Social Services. With over 20 years of experience helping families move toward stability, Annette shares her passion for workforce development, the barriers families face, and why a job is just the beginning—not the end—of the journey.
In this episode of #SupportVaKids, host Mariellen Keely talks with Tondra Boone, Administrative Staff Specialist to the CFO for the Division of Finance at the Virginia Department of Social Services. With nearly three decades in state service, Tondra shares her journey from her early roles in the field to her current position supporting the agency’s financial operations.
In this episode of #SupportVaKids, host Mariellen Keely speaks with Natasha Stevens, Program Support Technician at the Central Virginia District Office. Natasha talks about her professional growth from eligibility roles to child support, and the mentors and leaders who helped her believe in herself along the way.
In this episode of #SupportVaKids, host Mariellen Keely talks with Tiffany Joyner, Senior Program Consultant at the Division of Child Support Enforcement. Tiffany reflects on her career journey—from starting as a child support worker to becoming a trusted policy advisor and resource across Virginia.
Vickie Williams in this episode of #SupportVaKids, host Mariellen Keely sits down with Vickie Williams, Employee Relations Consultant for the VDSS Compliance Team. From her early days working in the Newport News child support office to her current role supporting employees and leaders across the agency, Vickie shares how her background in mediation, coaching, and conflict resolution informs her compassionate, solutions-focused approach to employee support.
In this episode of #SupportVaKids, host Mariellen Keely chats with Robin Lee, Intake, Intergovernmental, and TANF Enforcement Supervisor at the Central Virginia District Office. With a career rooted in public service, Robin shares her journey from Virginia Medicaid to child support—and why she believes every client deserves to be treated with respect and dignity.
In this episode of #SupportVaKids, host Mariellen Keely talks with Jonathan Singleton, Assistant Director for Employee Engagement at the Virginia Department of Human Resource Management. Jonathan shares his inspiring journey—from growing up in Brunswick County, to serving in the U.S. Marine Corps, to now leading initiatives that support and celebrate Virginia’s state employees.
Michelle Smith In this episode of #SupportVaKids, host Mariellen Keely is joined by Michelle Smith, Program Coordinator Senior on the Program Services team and a subject matter expert with the VChamps system modernization project. Michelle shares her inspiring journey from working the front desk as a Program Support Technician to helping redesign Virginia’s child support case management systems.
In this episode of #SupportVaKids, host Mariellen Keely speaks with Alex Vanik, Program Development Officer with Serve Virginia, about AmeriCorps, partnership building, and the small actions that fuel big change. Alex shares his journey from AmeriCorps VISTA member to leading grant planning and outreach efforts across the state—proving that passion, strategy, and service can shape a meaningful career in public service.
In this special Mother's Day edition of #SupportVaKids, host Mariellen Keely welcomes mother-daughter duo Ameera Vines, Support Enforcement Specialist Senior at CVDO, and Helen Vines, Business Process Reengineering Consultant with Virginia Child Support. Together, they share their personal journeys into public service, the importance of maintaining independence while working in the same agency, and the surprising parts of their personalities you might not see at first glance.
In this episode of #SupportVaKids, host Mariellen Keely interviews Jonathan Mosher, consultant in the Employee and Organizational Strategy portfolio at VDSS. From his early days in DMV communications to e-learning design and internal culture work at DSS, Jonathan shares how storytelling, curiosity, and service have shaped his 35-year career in Virginia state government.
In this special sibling edition of #SupportVaKids, host Mariellen Keely is joined by Tameka Stephens, Court Unit Supervisor, and her younger brother Milton Hill, Support Enforcement Specialist—both from the Central Virginia District Office. In honor of National Sibling Day, they share personal stories from childhood and their professional paths into child support, offering a heartfelt look at family, service, and the power of showing up for others.
Episode Title: Paying It Forward – A Conversation with Vickie Carter
In the February 14, 2025 episode of the Virginia Child Support Podcast, hashtag Support VA Kids, host Mariellen Keely sits down with Kimberly Fortune, Operations Manager for the Employee and Organizational Strategy Portfolio at VDSS. Kimberly shares her journey from Louisa County, Virginia, to becoming the "Chaos Coordinator" and glue that holds her team together. She oversees Human Resources, Public Affairs, Organizational Development, and Enterprise Learning and Development, working closely with every level of VDSS to keep things running smoothly.
In this episode of the #SupportVAKids Podcast, host Mariellen Keely sits down with Mark Abernathy, Property and Facilities Manager at the Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS). Mark is the person who quite literally keeps the lights on and the doors open for the agency.
This episode of the #SupportVAKids podcast features Tonya Moore, Administrative Staff Assistant on the DCSE Home Office Admin Team. Tonya shares her inspiring journey, from her early roles at VCU Medical Center and DMAS to her 19-year career with DCSE. Known for her problem-solving skills and dedication to helping others, Tanya opens up about her passion for supporting families, her nickname “Olivia Pope,” and her commitment to professional growth.
This episode of the #SupportVAKids podcast celebrates the remarkable career of Wade Hopkins as he approaches retirement from the Virginia Department of Social Services. A true advocate for families, Wade has served in many roles, from district manager to Business Solutions Consultant, leaving an indelible mark on Virginia's child support program.
Welcome to the latest episode of the #SupportVAKids podcast! This episode closes a chapter of the home office series. This week’s guest is special not just because he is my boss, but he is also the Director the Program Operations - Policy & Initiatives Team. Spend time hearing about his first jobs and what he wanted to be when he grew up. His also has a message for DCSE about the work his team is doing for families in Virginia.
Welcome to the latest episode of the #SupportVAKids podcast! This episode is another installment about the home office managers. This week’s guest is no stranger to the anyone in Virginia Child Support, Verrhonda Bullock, Intergovernmental, Financial Response & DCSE Home Office Admin Team Manager. Spend time hearing about how she got her start and the work her team is doing for families in Virginia.
Welcome to the latest episode of the #SupportVAKids podcast! This episode, begins a new short series about the home office managers. This week’s guest is no stranger to the anyone in Virginia Child Support, Sandra Brown, Program Guidance Manager. Spend time hearing about how she got her start and the work her team is doing for families in Virginia.
Welcome to the latest episode of the #SupportVAKids podcast! This episode, while not focused on vCHAMPS, offers valuable insights and great conversation about a special program within the child support program with this episode’s guest, Greg Harrison. Spend time hearing about the Family Engagement Services Team and the work they are doing for families in Virginia.
Welcome to the latest episode of the #SupportVAKids podcast! This episode, while not focused on our vCHAMPS system modernization project, has a special guest host, along with a familiar guest. Mariellen Keely hops to the other side of the microphone, this time as a guest, and is interviewed by our guest host, Taylor Ashe, a Policy Program Consultant with our Program Initiatives team. Mariellen shares information about the latest grant that has been awarded to the Virginia DCSE Program Initiatives Team titled Next Gen FIRST: Families In Reentry Seeking Transformation.
Welcome to the latest episode of the #SupportVAKids podcast! This episode, while not focused on vCHAMPS, offers valuable insights and great conversation about the child support program with this episode’s guest, Michelle Mirakian. Spend time hearing about her new role and the work she and her team are doing for Virginia DCSE Valley Office.
Welcome to the latest episode of the #SupportVAKids podcast! This episode, while not focused on vCHAMPS, offers valuable insights and great conversation about the child support program with this episode’s guest, Danelle Bradshaw. Spend time hearing about Danelle’s new role and the work she and her team are doing for Virginia DCSE in the forms and data space.
Welcome to the latest episode of the #SupportVAKids podcast! This episode, while not focused on vCHAMPS, offers valuable insights and great conversation about the child support program with this episode’s guest, Brenda Clark. Spend time hearing about Brenda’s new role and the work she and her team are doing for Virginia DCSE in the judicial process.
Welcome to the fifth episode of the SAVES grant series on the #SupportVaKids podcast! This episode features an interview with Latoria White and Robin Stevens from the Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance (VSDVA). During this week’s episodes, our host, Mariellen, chats with them as they share their role and perspective with the SAVES project and provide information about the domestic violence hotline. Links can be found below to the topics referenced throughout this conversation.
Welcome to the latest episode of the #SupportVAKids podcast! This episode, while not focused on vCHAMPS, offers insights and great conversation about the child support program with our guest, Lisa White. Learn about how Lisa got her start in the program and about the work her new team are doing for DCSE.
Welcome to the fourth episode of SAVES grant series on the #SupportVaKids podcast! This episode features a second interview with Sarah Mendoza, Policy Program Consultant. During this week’s episodes, our host, Mariellen, chats with Sarah as she shares her perspective on the SAVES project and provides information specifically about the upcoming training program with SAVES. Sarah also discusses what staff should expect, along with how the SAVES team is preparing for the training for staff.
Welcome to the latest episode of the #SupportVAKids podcast! This episode, while not focused on vCHAMPS, offers insights and great conversation about the child support program with our guest, Kevin Butler, the man, the myth, the legend. Learn about how Kevin ended up in the child support program and some of his achievements.
vCHAMPS Episode: Welcome to the nine episode of the vCHAMPS series on the #SupportVAKids podcast! Virginia DCSE is making significant progress with the vCHAMPS project, aiming to modernize our child support case management system. This is the second of two episodes where we’re excited to present the vCHAMPS training team to our listeners.
vCHAMPS Episode: Welcome to the eighth episode of the vCHAMPS series on the #SupportVAKids podcast! Virginia DCSE is making significant progress with the vCHAMPS project, aiming to modernize our child support case management system. This is the first of two episodes where we’re excited to present the vCHAMPS training team to our listeners.
This is the seventh episode in our vCHAMPS series of the #SupportVAKids podcast! The vCHAMPS project is well underway as Virginia DCSE forges ahead with the vCHAMPS project, our ambitious endeavor to creating a modernized child support case management system. In this episode, you will hear from Michelle Franco, the newly appointed Program Operations Director with a wealth of experience in child support services. Michelle will offer her unique insights into the project’s progress and discuss how these transformative changes are set to empower our caseworkers with enhanced efficiency. This leap forward promises to free up valuable time, allowing our dedicated team to focus on what they do best: supporting and uplifting Virginia’s families.
This is the sixth episode in the vCHAMPS series of the #SupportVAKids podcast, including a special crossover with the SAVES project! No matter what lens you look at this episode through, it is one you don’t want to miss. Hear from Tammi Jordan, as she shares her perspective of both the vCHAMPS and the SAVES projects, her experience with Virginia DCSE, and what she is most excited about as we embark on this epic journey to a modernized child support system.
Welcome back to the fifth episode in our vCHAMPS project series on the #SupportVAKids podcast! The vCHAMPS project is well underway as Virginia DCSE works to create a modernized child support case management system. Hear from two members of the Organizational Change Management team, as they share an overview of the project, what their roles looks like, and provide a refresher on the background work that has already been done on this epic journey to a modernized system.
Welcome back to the fourth episode in our vCHAMPS project series on the #SupportVAKids podcast! The vCHAMPS project is well underway as Virginia DCSE works to create a modernized child support case management system. Hear from two members of the Human Centered Design team, as they share an overview of the project, what their role looks like, and remind us to trust the process, keep a human-centered approach when building our new system, and to also remain optimistic as we embark on this epic journey to a modernized system.
Welcome back to the third episode in our vCHAMPS project series on the #supportvakids podcast! The vCHAMPS project is well underway as Virginia DCSE works to create a modernized child support case management system. Hear from two product owners, Therea Coleman and Taneisha Taliferro, as they share an overview of the project, what their roles look like, and what an exciting time this is for Virginia, as we begin this epic journey to a modernized system.
Welcome back to the second episode in our vCHAMPS project series on the #supportvakids podcast! The vCHAMPS project is well underway as Virginia DCSE works to create a modernized child support case management system. Hear from Subject Matter Expert (SME), Angela Grady, as she shares an overview of the project, what her role looks like, and reminds us to focus on progress not perfection as we begin this epic journey to a modernized system.
Welcome to the first episode in our vCHAMPS project series on the #supportvakids podcast! The vCHAMPS project is well underway as Virginia DCSE works to create a modernized child support case management system. Hear from Project Co-Directors, Stephanie Connelly and Davora Hudson, as they share an overview of the project, what their roles look like in leading the project, and remind us to embrace technology and support change as we begin this epic journey to a modernized system.
The third episode of SAVES grant series on the #SupportVaKids podcast features an interview with Dr Jennifer Reid, Evaluation Director, Center for Public Policy, L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs at VCU. Jenn shares her perspective of the SAVES project and teaches us a few things about the evaluation process along the way.
This episode is an interview with our new Divisional Director Alana Tucker. Learn about Alana's experience within the DCSE child support program and her vision for our agency!
The second episode of the relaunch of the #SupportVaKids podcast features an interview with Pierre Berastain who was previously the Chief Strategy & Operations Officer at Caminar Latino - Latinos United for Peace and Equity, which formed one third of the SAVES Center and was pivotal in the early architecture of the SAVES federal demonstration grant. Pierre shares his passion for the SAVES project and the experiences that brought him to the grant, along with his hopes for the 5-year project period.
The first episode of the relaunch of Virginia Division of Child Support’s #SupportVaKids podcast features an interview with the Virginia SAVES Project Director, Taylor Ashe and SAVES Policy Program Consultant, Sarah Mendoza. This episode focuses on learning a little more about them and their plan for this 5-year SAVES grant project.
There is a myth that the Division only collects and disburses money. We also have Family Engagement Services and a worker in each office who do a bit more. This is the second episode in a series about these workers and they all provide great information about the program. For more information visit our website, call 1-800-468-8894, or email us at askdcse@dss.virginia.gov.
There is a myth that the Division only collects and disburses money. We also have Family Engagement Services and a worker in each office who do a bit more. This is the first episode in a series about these workers and they all provide great information about the program. For more information visit our website, call 1-800-468-8894, or email us at askdcse@dss.virginia.gov.
Our first episode is an interview with our Director, Barbara Lacina. Learn about her and her vision for our agency!
Introduction to #supportVAkids podcast
