CHILD SUPPORT SPECIALIST I

This recruitment is limited to current employees of the Department of Human Resources (DHR).

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Howard County Department of Social Services

7121 Columbia Gateway Drive

Columbia, Maryland 21046

The main purpose of this position is to investigate and analyze child support cases and initiate appropriate actions to establish, maintain and enforce support payments for dependent children in accordance with applicable Federal and State laws, rules and regulations. This position is responsible for performing duties related to establishing paternity and child support orders, negotiating agreements for child support payments and health insurance coverage and maintaining and enforcing the collection of current and past due amounts. Employees in this classification do not supervise.

Obtains, verifies and analyzes information from custodial and non-custodial parents, employers, financial institutions, private and government resources, health insurance carriers and others to perform duties related to establishing paternity and child support orders, negotiating agreements for child support payments and health insurance coverage; maintains and enforces the collection of current and past due amounts; locates non-custodial parents; verifies income and assets; appears in court on scheduled hearing days and testifies as to case status; enters, updates or completes all incomplete/incorrect information on the Child Support Enforcement System (CSES) computer system; acknowledges and responds to correspondence.

Education: An Associate of Arts degree in social services, human services, legal studies, public administration or similar fields of study from an accredited college or university.

Experience: Six months of experience investigating and analyzing child support cases and initiating appropriate actions to establish, maintain and enforce support payments for dependent children in accordance with Federal and State laws, rules and regulations.

Notes:

1. A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university may be substituted for the required education.

2. A Bachelor’s degree in social services, human services, legal studies, public administration or similar fields of study from an accredited college or university may be substituted for the required education and the required experience.

3. Experience investigating and analyzing child support cases and initiating appropriate actions to establish, maintain or enforce support payments for dependent children in accordance with Federal and State laws, rules and regulations may be substituted for the required education on a year-for-year basis.

4. Experience determining eligibility for government assistance programs may be substituted for the specific program experience.

This recruitment is limited to current employees of the Department of Human Resources (DHR).

Employees in this classification may be assigned duties which require the operation of a motor vehicle. Employees assigned such duties will be required to possess a motor vehicle operator’s license valid in the State of Maryland.

You must possess the minimum qualifications to be considered for this position.  Please make sure that you provide sufficient information on your application to show that you meet the qualifications for this recruitment. All information concerning your qualifications must be submitted by the closing date.  We will not consider information submitted after this date.  

If you are in State service and are a promotional candidate your salary will be determined in accordance with the State of Maryland Salary Guidelines.

The assessment will consist of a rating of your education, training, and experience relating to the requirements of the position.   Therefore, it is important that you provide complete and accurate information on your application and list all experience and education that is related to the position.  All approved candidates will be placed on an eligible list as Best Qualified.

The resulting eligible list may be used for future vacancies with this agency and other state agencies.

The incumbent in this position is a member of a covered bargaining unit and will be required to pay a bi-weekly service fee to the exclusive representative of the bargaining unit.

STATE OF MARYLAND BENEFITS  

Applications not identifying minimum qualifications and education will not be considered.  College transcripts are not required for the review of your application and do not need to be forwarded.  Please clearly indicate your college degree and majors on your application.    If selected for an interview, you will be required to provide a copy of your diploma or transcripts.  For education obtained outside of the U.S., a copy of the equivalent American education as determined by a foreign credential evaluation service must be provided if selected for an interview.

Applicants who meet the minimum qualifications will be evaluated. Credit may be given for relevant part-time, temporary, or volunteer experience, if you list the number of hours worked per week. Please report all related education, experience, dates and hours of work. 

Online applications are STRONGLY preferred, however the paper application may be submitted to: Howard County Department of Social Services, Attn: M. Martin, 7121 Columbia Gateway Drive, Columbia, MD  21046. The paper application must be received by 5 PM, close of business, on the closing date for the recruitment, no postmarks will be accepted.  Applications received after the closing date will not be considered. 

TTY  Users: call via Maryland Relay

We thank our Veterans for their service to our country, and encourage them to apply.

As an equal opportunity employer Maryland is committed to recruiting, retaining and promoting employees who are reflective of the State’s diversity.