ATLANTA –­­­ Department of Human Services (DHS) Division of Child Support Services Director Tanguler Gray is the new president-elect of the National Child Support Enforcement Association’s (NCSEA) Board of Directors.

Gray’s one-year term as president will begin Sept. 1.

“Tanguler is a dynamic leader who has spearheaded several initiatives—including the development of a mobile app for child support customers and the expansion of the Parental Accountability Court program—to meet parents where they are, provide them good customer service and help them focus on what’s most important: their children,” DHS Commissioner Robyn A. Crittenden said. “Tanguler is an asset to Georgia, and she’s a fierce advocate for strong families. I know she will excel in her new position on the board.”

Gray, a 25-year veteran of the state child support division, has been recognized nationally for her work in establishing outreach programs to assist noncustodial parents in overcoming barriers to paying court-ordered child support.

Gray, who has been director of the Division since 2013, oversaw the creation of the GA DCSS Mobile App, which launched in 2016, making Georgia the first state to make a full-service child support mobile app available to its customers. The mobile application is available on Android and Apple devices; it has received two national awards and one statewide award since its launch in 2016.

Under her leadership, the Division expanded its Parental Accountability Court program into 32 of Georgia’s 49 judicial circuits. By the end of Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 2017, the program had helped the Division reach hard-to-serve families and collect more than $5.33 million in support on behalf of children whose parents had regularly missed payments, and who were at risk of incarceration for nonpayment of child support.

In all, the Division distributed $744 million in support to approximately 555,000 of Georgia’s children in FFY 2017. The Division has a staff of nearly 1,100 in 58 offices statewide.

About Tanguler Gray: A Valdosta State University graduate, Gray has worked in child support for the Department of Human Services for 25 years. She has held leadership roles in accounting, fiscal operations, customer service, organizational effectiveness, field and state operations and executive management.

Before becoming director, Gray spearheaded the Rapid Process Improvement (RPI) initiative, leading Georgia to capture the 2007 Governor’s Award for Customer Service and the 2008 National Child Support Enforcement Association (NCSEA) Commissioner’s Award for High Performance. 

About NCSEA: The National Child Support Enforcement Association serves child support professionals, agencies and strategic partners worldwide through professional development, communications, public awareness and advocacy to enhance the financial, medical and emotional support that parents provide for their children.

About the Department of Human Services: Georgia’s largest state agency, the Department delivers a wide range of human services designed to promote self-sufficiency, safety and well-being for all Georgians. The Department comprises three Divisions—Aging Services, Child Support Services and Family and Children Services--and serves more than 2 million people annually.