OLYMPIA-Wally McClure, former director of the Department of Social and Health Services’ (DSHS) Division of Child Support (DCS) is receiving the 2018 Outstanding Leadership Award for his almost 40 years of service on behalf of children and families across the nation. The National Child Support Enforcement Association (NCSEA) is presenting the award to McClure August 13 at its annual Leadership Symposium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
McClure retired as DCS director after serving more than 30 years with the Division and served as director for the last seven years. This award recognizes his outstanding leadership of an organization, his influence on child support programs and his inspiration of others. Diane Potts, president of NCSEA said he will be missed by association members.
“Wally is national leader for the child support program,” Potts said. “(He) recently spearheaded a national collaboration to ensure a positive public image of the child support program in order to engage all families in need of service.”
David Stillman, DSHS assistant secretary of the Economic Services Administration nominated McClure for this prestigious award. Stillman praised McClure’s ability to collaborate with community organizations, other state agencies and the Community Services Division.
“Wally McClure’s dedication and commitment to the child support system have paved the way for a paradigm shift in how we conduct child support enforcement in Washington state,” Stillman said. “This change required rethinking our cultural beliefs from merely enforcing collections to focusing equally on the well-being of children and families by looking at the needs of the whole family.”
“We are so proud of Wally on this accomplishment,” said Cheryl Strange, Secretary of DSHS. “We will continue Wally’s legacy and help every family build a strong foundation that will help children in our state meet their full potential.”
For more information about the Division of Child Support, visit https://www.dshs.wa.gov/esa/division-child-support
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