Child Support Spec (Entry)
Learns to and conducts case assessments and investigations; conducts interviews with custodial and/or non-custodial parents and others to elicit factual information, determines support obligations, and calculate support payments; assists in preparing cases for court hearings.
Child Support Spec (Journey)
Conducts case assessments/management and investigations and conducts interviews with custodial and/or non-custodial parents and others to elicit factual information, determines support obligations; assists in preparing cases for court hearings.
CLASS CHARACTERISTICS
Child Support Spec (Entry)
This is the entry level class in the Child Support Specialist series. Incumbents in this class learn and apply child support laws, regulations, and procedures and acquire the skills to perform a broad range of child support casework activities. As incumbents acquire knowledge and skills, they carry out their assignments with greater independence. Incumbents analyze information, initiate legal actions, participate in the settlement of cases and prepare clear, concise reports. This class differs from Child Support Specialist in that incumbents of that class are fully proficient in the specific laws, policies, civil and criminal procedures and processes required to enforce a child support case, manager a larger and more complex caseload, and assist with one-on-one training.
Child Support Spec (Journey)
This is the journey level within the Child Support Specialist series. The incumbents perform the full range of activities to enforce child support laws. Incumbents in this class are expected to be fully proficient in the specific laws, policies, civil and criminal procedures and processes required to establish and enforce child support cases. Work is performed in accordance with established policies and procedures but also requires the ability to use independent judgment and discretion. This class is distinguished from Senior Child Support Specialist in that incumbents in the latter class work closely with the assigned attorney in preparing for the establishment of cases and enforcement of court orders, appearing in court and resolving issues prior to court.
Supervision Received and Exercised
Child Support Spec (Entry)
Receives general supervision from the Child Support Specialist (Supervising), technical oversight from Child Support Specialist and technical and functional oversight from Child Support Specialist (Senior).
Exercises no supervision.
Child Support Spec (Journey)
Receives general supervision.
May provide technical guidance over lower level or newly hired staff.
Examples of Duties
Interviews custodial and non-custodial parents, witnesses, family members, representatives from law enforcement agencies, and attorneys to obtain statements and gather information for locating absent parents and determining financial status; ensures that forms and applications for child support payments are complete and accurate; explains general legal requirements and the calculation of support payments to non-custodial parents and other involved parties.
Learns and implements practices and procedures in regard to the contacting of non-custodial parents to advise them of their child support obligations; obtains financial declarations; learns and applies proper procedures necessary to establish the amount of child support payment based on financial status of absent parents.
Participates in interviews to secure support agreements and to persuade responsible parties to make payments without recourse to legal action.
Informs the Health and Social Services Department of non-cooperative custodial parents; learns to prepare cases for civil or criminal prosecution within the standards set forth by statute and case law; protects the constitutional rights of the absent parent and the rights of the custodial parents and child.
Learns to and applies federal, state and local laws, ordinances, rules and procedures in order to secure current and delinquent child support payments; establishes paternity, child support, and medical coverage through legal action; conducts individual case assessments; provides customer services to clients; conducts investigations to obtain factual information; generates legal documents and performs mathematical calculations.
Makes verbal or written inquiries of various agencies and business firms in order to locate the whereabouts of absent parents; contacts friends or relatives of custodial parents or absent parents to determine the validity of information obtained or to gain additional information regarding the whereabouts of the absent parent.
Learns to and applies proper procedures in order to monitor support payment records to ensure that the responsible party is in compliance with court order; learns proper practices and procedures which are utilized when default occurs including the preparation of civil actions under direction of a Child Support Attorney; initiates delinquent notices to the responsible party when necessary in order to secure continued support payments; serves legal documents where appropriate.
Completes necessary accounting instructions to initiate support accounting processes; initiates accounting instructions to change support payments in accordance with modification of court orders; prepares and maintains forms, applications, case files, and other necessary records; generates legal documents related to child support, paternity, and medical support orders; serves court documents.
Maintains professional knowledge in applicable areas and keeps abreast of changes in job-related rules, statutes, laws and new business trends; makes recommendations for the implementation of changes; reads and interprets professional literature; attends training programs, workshops and seminars as appropriate.
Child Support Spec (Journey)
Interviews custodial and non-custodial parents, witnesses, family members, representatives from law enforcement agencies, and attorneys to obtain statements and gather information for locating absent parents; conducts financial resource background investigations on the non-custodial parents’ assets to determining ability to pay support, including location and review of current and past employers and of information obtained form agencies; ensures that forms and applications for support payments are complete and accurate; explains general legal requirements and the calculation of support payments to non-custodial parents and other involved parties.
Contacts non-custodial parents in writing or by telephone to advise them of their support obligations; obtains financial declarations and to prepare stipulation of monthly support obligations consistent with parents’ personal incomes; establishes the amount of support payment based on financial status and allowable deductions of the custodial and non-custodial parents.
Interviews parties to secure support agreements and to persuade responsible parties to make payments without recourse to legal action.
Elicits information from custodial parents in order to establish paternity; reviews lab reports to monitor paternity testing status and follows up as necessary.
Informs the appropriate County Health and Social Services Department of non-cooperative custodial parents; prepares cases for civil or criminal prosecution within the standards set forth by statute and case law; protects the constitutional rights of the non-custodial parent and the rights of the custodial party and child; testifies in court and assists attorneys with case preparation including assisting in court.
Reviews application documents for completeness and accuracy, requesting additional information and documents as necessary; evaluates information for compliance with regulations so that initial eligibility for public assistance can be determined; provides clients with information relative to policies, procedures and legal rights.
Applies federal, state and local laws, ordinances, rules and procedures in order to secure current and delinquent support payments; establishes paternity, child support, and medical coverage through legal action; conducts individual case assessments/management; provides customer services to a variety of parties and agencies; conducts investigations to obtain factual information; generates legal documents and performs mathematical calculations to determine current and past due support obligations.
Makes verbal or written inquiries of various agencies and businesses in order to locate the whereabouts of parents; uses various sources, including family, friends and information systems to gather and validate location information on parties, including children.
Monitors support payment records to ensure that the responsible party is in compliance with court orders, laws and mandates; implements proper practices and procedures when default occurs including the preparation of civil actions under direction of a Child Support Attorney; initiates delinquent notices to the obligor/employer when necessary in order to secure continued support payments; prepares a variety of legal documents; serves legal documents where appropriate.
Initiates fraud referrals when circumstances indicating an act of welfare fraud are discovered; determines affect fraud investigation has on support case and gives instructions to adjust accounts based on investigation results.
Maintains professional knowledge in applicable areas and keeps abreast of changes in job-related rules, statutes, laws and mandates; makes recommendations for the implementation of changes; reads and interprets professional literature; attends training programs, workshops and seminars.
Answers questions regarding cases of both a general and specific nature; refers parties to appropriate individuals or agencies for assistance as needed; makes referrals to employment programs to assist the non custodial parents in finding employment.
Completes necessary accounting instructions to initiate support accounting processes; initiates accounting instructions to change support payments in accordance with modification of court orders; prepares and maintains forms, applications, case files, and other necessary records; generates legal documents related to child support, paternity, and medical support orders; serves court documents.
Closes case files after thorough review and analysis reveals closure is appropriate per State mandates.
Determines next appropriate action in each case; reviews case files for accuracy.
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
Child Support Spec (Entry) Knowledge of:
Methods and techniques used in interviewing individuals to discover information pertinent to the establishment of responsibility for child support payments, location and financial status of the responsible party.
The use of sources to research assets and obligations.
Financial record keeping procedures.
Modern office practices and procedures, including use of personal computer and network programs.
Methods and techniques used to locate individuals.
Techniques and methods used in collections.
Common legal terminology, documents and procedures used to enforce payment of funds. Skill to:
Operate office equipment including a personal computer, copy and fax machines and printers. Ability to:
Learn, understand, and apply federal, state or local laws, ordinances, codes, procedures and rules in order to establish/secure current and delinquent child support payments and establish paternity/medical support.
Learn to comply with court and state mandated due process standards.
Communicate with and explain technical information to individuals from a wide variety of educational and cultural backgrounds; learn to effectively interview individuals and investigate leads in order to secure information required to effectuate the collection of child support payments; exercise tact, diplomacy, and flexibility.
Research and extract factual information.
Learn child support establishment, enforcement and collection methods.
Learn legal criteria for establishing paternity, child support and medical support.
Maintain confidentiality.
Prepare complete and concise oral and written reports.
Establish and maintain effective working relationships.
Learn computer databases and programs common to child support enforcement activities.
Effectively locate individuals and research information on the whereabouts of case participants.
Make logical determinations from financial statements on the amount of child support payments.
Learn to monitor child support payment records to ensure compliance with court orders.
Learn to evaluate case records and, if default occurs, initiate and prepare appropriate civil or criminal action; learn to prepare administrative legal documents.
Deal with stressful situations and potentially hostile people.
Manage a caseload utilizing time management.
Child Support Spec (Journey) Knowledge of:
Civil and criminal law, procedures and regulations, which pertain to the enforcement of support cases.
Methods and techniques used in interviewing individuals to discover information pertinent to the establishment of responsibility for child support payments, location and financial status of the responsible party.
The use of various sources to research assets and obligations, including other agencies’ database systems.
Support collection procedures and methods of collecting and adjusting delinquent accounts.
Legal terminology and legal forms, and documents used to enforce support.
Methods and techniques used to effectively locate absent parents, children and related persons.
Financial record keeping procedures.
Modern office practices and procedures.
Caseload management skills.
Skills to:
Operate office equipment including a personal computer, copy and fax machines and printers.
Drive a motor vehicle. Ability to:
Apply federal, state or local laws, ordinances, codes, procedures and rules in order to secure current and delinquent support payments and establishment of paternity.
Maintain confidentiality.
Establish and maintain effective working relationships.
Comply with court mandated due process standards.
Communicate with and explain technical information to individuals from a wide variety of educational and cultural backgrounds; learn to effectively interview individuals in order to secure information required to effectuate the collection of support payments; exercise tact, diplomacy, and flexibility.
Research and extract factual information; prepare complete and concise oral and written reports.
Initiate and facilitate the collection of support payments.
Testify in court.
Effectively locate individuals, assets and court orders for support.
Make logical determinations from financial statements on the amount of support payments.
Monitor support payment records and accounts to ensure compliance with court orders.
Evaluate case records and, if default occurs, prepare cases for civil or criminal action, if warranted; prepare administrative legal documents.
Prepare correspondence and convey facts and information.
Deal with stressful situations and potentially hostile people.
Operate electronic information systems equipment.
Education and Experience
Experience:
Two (2) years of clerical experience involving extensive public contact. AND Education:
Completion of 15 semester or 22.5 quarter units, from an accredited college or university preferably in Sociology, Social Work, Business, Public Administration, Liberal Arts, Paralegal, Criminal Justice or other related courses.
Failure to submit your degree or transcripts by the final filing date will disqualify you from the recruitment.
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS
Possession of, or ability to obtain, a valid Class C California driver's license is required.
Independent travel may be required.
Positions allocated to this class may require bilingual skills.
Candidates for positions in this class will be required to pass a background investigation in accordance with applicable law, regulation and/or policy.
Incumbents of this class shall serve a twelve (12) month probationary period.
Incumbents of this class should demonstrate necessary knowledge and abilities to be promoted to Child Support Specialist within eighteen (18) months of appointment.
ADA Compliance
Physical Ability: Tasks involve the ability to exert light physical effort in sedentary to light work, but which may involve some lifting, carrying, pushing and/or pulling of objects and materials of light weight (5-10 pounds). Occasionally moving of weights up to 25 pounds may be required. Tasks may involve extended periods of time at a keyboard or workstation.
Sensory Requirements: Requires the ability to recognize and identify similarities and differences between shade, degree or value of colors, shapes, sounds, forms, textures or physical appearance associated with job-related objects, materials, tasks or people.
Environmental Factors: Requires the ability to work under conditions where exposure to environmental factors poses a risk of minor injury or illness.
CLASS: 412010; EST: 11/1/2000;
CLASS: 413060; EST: 11/1/2000;
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