Local judge connects people with jobs to help keep up with child support

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV) -- A local judge is helping people on his docket take the next step toward financial stability.

Associate Circuit Court Division 5 Judge Chad Gaddie attended a career fair at the Stoney Creek Hotel to help people find employment so they can stay on track with their child support payments.

He said one of the hurdles to paying child support is whether or not that person has a job.

"We're out here today to talk to employers to find out what they're looking for so when people are in front of me on the bench I'll have the opportunity to tell them what positions are available and hopefully get people lined up for jobs," he said.

Gaddie told people on his docket about the career fair.

"I told them if they had any problems of getting a job, I can help them, put them in contact with anybody; I'll be certainly happy to do that," he said.

Gaddie said having a stable job can really help them stay on track with their payments.

"In order to pay child support, you have to have a job, and when somebody tells me they can't find a job in this market," he said. "I sometimes find that hard to believe, and so I just want to know what jobs are available so I can make sure we connect the probationer to the employers."