Child support specialist

basic purpose:

Positions in this job family are assigned responsibilities in initiating and processing child support enforcement cases.

typical functions:

The functions within this job family will vary by levels, but may include the following:

• Manages a caseload for the establishment of paternity, support and/or income assignments on incoming requests for services and initiates referrals to other states.
• Performs State Parent Locate Services and makes referrals to the Federal Parent Locate Services; gathers information on fraud for further referral to the Fraud Unit through the Central Locate Section. Performs field investigations.
• Initiates enforcement actions in delinquent cases after consultation with supervisor and/or attorneys.
• Determines child support obligations using the child support formula and varied sources of available departmental information, including custodial parent information, non-custodial parent information and Department of Human Services Programs information for the purpose of establishing support when there is no existing support order; performs review and adjustment activities for modification of support orders.
• Interprets and advises on Interstate, Locate, Arrearage, Distribution and Tax Offset case procedures to local level child support offices and staff from other states; advises other Child Support Specialists and participates in special projects.
• Represents the Department/client in administrative hearings and appears in district court as a witness; conducts administrative review of tax intercept cases and determines if corrective action is needed; conducts presettlement conferences and determines arrearage amounts.
• Monitors child support payments for enforcement; identifies distribution problems using approved CSEU policy, drafts appropriate memos concerning distribution for supervisor’s signature.
• Accepts settlements, within guidelines, on child support cases.
• Computes detailed arrearages using approved formula and through the investigation of various records and documents.

lEVEL DESCRIPTORS:

This job family consists of four levels of work that are distinguished by the level of complexity of job duties assigned and for the responsibility of the leadership of others.

Level I: Code: H30A Salary Band: H

This is the basic level where employees perform responsible beginning level child support casework in processing cases through location, case development, initial notice to non-custodial parents regarding obligation and child support enforcement involvement; drafts routine payment plans of support obligations and debts. Responsibilities may also include preparation of simple child support arrearages, assisting in the update of child support account balances and/or performing routine locate work by means of the computer in order to develop enforcement cases and other activities which require only basic knowledge and skills in child support casework.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities required at this level include knowledge of basic personal computer usage and PC software; of federal and state laws, policies and procedures relating to child support; of readily available sources to locate information; of current social and economic problems; of the principles of family economics and budgeting; of human relations; and of social assistance requirements. Ability is required to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others; to handle confidential and sensitive work with discretion; and to interpret and handle routine decisions in accordance with agency policy.

Education and Experience requirements at this level consist of a bachelor’s degree; or an equivalent combination of education and experience, substituting one year of professional law enforcement, child support enforcement, or social work for each year of the required education; or completion of an associate’s degree in Legal Assistance or a closely related program of paralegal education; or completion of an American Bar Association approved paralegal education program.

Level II: Code: H30B Salary Band: I

At this level employees provide full-performance child support services to children and custodial parents of Oklahoma and all other states and territories and performs investigations requiring both broad and specialized knowledge of all child support services. Some positions will specialize in performing service of process and execution of bench warrants at all levels of complexity and difficulty, requiring independent judgment in the performance of duties. Employees assigned to positions at this level will have greater independence and discretion in accepting settlements and making decisions that will work toward resolution of child support case problems. Responsibilities may also include serving as a resource for other child support specialists, participating in policy development affecting an area or small office and/or interpreting casework policy in unusual situations.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities required at this level include knowledge of state laws relating to child support and law enforcement; of federal regulations pertaining to the Title IV-D program; of Department of Human Services policy and procedure for Title IV-A and IV-D Programs; of sources of local information; of basic PC operation and PC software and of case management methodology. Ability is required to utilize legal/administrative processes; to interview and negotiate; to maintain confidentiality; to evaluate personal financial records; to provide caseload management; to write reports; make decisions based on available date and adopting appropriate courses of action; to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing; to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others.

Education and Experience requirements at this level consist of a bachelor’s degree and one year of professional experience in law enforcement, child support enforcement, or social work; or a master’s degree; or a juris doctorate degree; or an associate’s degree in Legal Assistance or a closely related program of paralegal education and two years of qualifying experience; or completion of an American Bar Association approved paralegal education program; or an equivalent combination of education and experience, substituting one additional year of qualifying experience for each year of the required bachelor’s degree.

Level III: Code: H30C Salary Band: J

This is the specialist level where employees are designated as lead workers, backup supervisors to Level I and II employees, or court liaisons/community relations specialists. Employees designated as lead workers, or backup supervisors at this level act as mentors to Level I or Level II employees by providing child support case consultation, advising and training on child support casework and/or interpretation of laws, regulations, policies, and procedures. Employees designated as court liaisons/community relations specialists may work closely with custodial and non-custodial parents and community resources, track success/failure of program participants, keep statistical data, and work to build accountability with community resources and on court referrals. Responsibilities may include assigning caseloads and ensuring compliance with federal and state laws and regulation, agency and program policies, and procedures and office policies and practices. Employees at this level will provide casework services at all levels of difficulty and complexity.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities at this level include those identified in Level II plus the ability to interpret and apply laws, rules, regulations, policies, and procedures to their own child support casework and to organize, monitor, and direct the work of others.

Education and Experience requirements at this level consist of those identified in Level II plus one additional year of professional experience in child support enforcement.

Level IV: Code: H30D Salary Band: K

This is the leadership level where employees supervise and coordinate child support specialists, some of which may serve as a commissioned peace officer, in the location of non-custodial parents, in the service of process and execution of warrants for nonpayment of support, establishment of paternity, establishment of support, and enforcement of child, spousal and medical support in accordance with established legal and administrative requirements of the Department of Human Services, state law and federal regulations. Employees assigned to this level provide direct supervision to lower level child support specialists, supervise aspects of the program such as IRS and Oklahoma Tax Commission intercept, credit bureau referrals in the State Office, or supervise teams comprised of child support specialists.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities required at this level include knowledge of statutes relating to child support, law enforcement and administrative law in Oklahoma; of child support requirements in other states and countries under the Uniform Interstate Family Support Act; of the Federal Social Security Act; of relevant Oklahoma statutes; of federal regulations; of public assistance programs; of mediation, negotiation, litigation; of the principles and practices of supervision; and of the principles and methods of employee training. Ability is required to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others; to train staff; to plan and distribute work; to exercise good judgment in evaluating complex situations; to make social, legal and financial decisions; and to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.

Education and Experience requirements at this level consist of those identified in Level III plus one additional year of professional experience in child support enforcement.

Special Requirements:

Some positions may require current certification by the Oklahoma Council on Law Enforcement Education and Training.