|
|
 |
|
Application Information Regarding the Nature of Work Performed
|
|
|
INTRODUCTION
|
|
|
Submitting an application is the first step toward a valuable and rewarding career as a
Child Support Specialist. We offer this additional information in an effort to provide
you with a clear understanding of the nature of the job and its requirements. Please take
the time to review this information prior to submitting an application.
|
|
|
NATURE OF WORK
|
|
|
The primary function of a Child Support Specialist involves establishing paternity and child
support obligations and enforcing child support laws. The work performed includes processing
of a broad range of paperwork and entering information into a computer-based case data management
system with very time sensitive agency and legal deadlines. The Child Support Specialist maintains
a caseload and locates and interviews custodial and non-custodial parents and others to gather
information for locating non-custodial parents and their assets, determining financial ability
to pay child and medical support, establishing paternity and child support orders, and collecting
those court- ordered support payments. They also prepare cases for court hearings.
|
|
|
Within legal requirements and departmental policies and procedures, Child Support Specialists operate
with considerable independence and must exercise discretion and judgment in evaluating cases and
determining the level of support and the methods of enforcement. They have discretionary ability to
obtain highly confidential information from a wide variety of sources, which must be used only for
business purposes. Misuse of such information is subject to criminal and civil action.
|
|
Typical duties include:
-
Takes sworn statements from the custodial parent and non-custodial parent, and arranges or facilitates
DNA testing in cases where paternity is in question.
-
Evaluates income and expense data of custodial and non-custodial parent to determine support capability;
reviews financial history to determine arrears obligation.
-
Explains legal requirements and the calculation of support payments to custodial and non-custodial parents
and other involved parties.
-
Issues Summons and Complaints and Proposed Judgments to establish paternity and support orders and enforces
those orders through wage assignments and other legal actions.
-
Obtains and enforces health insurance orders.
-
Recommends cases for prosecution, prepares legal documents for court filing, assists attorneys in preparing
cases, and testifies in court as necessary.
-
Initiates and processes such legal actions as subpoenas, orders to show cause, registration of foreign support
orders, notices of assignment, writs of execution, property liens, orders of examination, and contempt of court
actions pertaining to the enforcement of child support.
-
Responds to and investigates complaints from custodial and non-custodial parents regarding hidden assets and/or
"under the table" employment.
-
Accesses computerized databases and maintains computerized files. Responds to and complete numerous daily, weekly,
and monthly automated task lists.
-
Responds to inquiries from the public, private attorneys, appointed and elected officials.
-
Provides case status information and interprets child support statutes, regulations, and procedures to custodial
and non-custodial parents.
|
|
|
Child Support Specialists are expected to handle a high volume of work which is deadline driven. Applicants must be
able to prioritize, plan and project their work, but at the same time be flexible to changes at any moment, such as
unscheduled visits from clients. They perform in a high stress work environment.
|
|
|
It is important to understand that the actions you take as a Child Support Specialist impact the lives of clients and
their families, both emotionally and financially.
|
|
|
CONTROVERSIAL ISSUES
|
|
As a Child Support Specialist you may be required to take actions that conflict with your own values. A Child
Support Specialist must be able to accept clients' differences and interact with them in a non-judgmental manner.
Some of the controversial issues encountered in a Child Support environment include:
- Enforcing mandatory guideline child support orders that may not seem reasonable
- Attaching the wages of non-custodial parents who then allege they will not be able to support their current family
- Negatively impacting a non-custodial parent's credit rating
- Intercepting state and federal tax returns
- Revoking driver's licenses, required employment and professional licenses, and passports
- Clients who do not wish to be cooperative
- Clients in a highly emotional or irate mental state
- Custodial parents involved in Welfare fraud
- Clients who are domestic violence victims
- Clients with felony convictions
- Homeless individuals and families
- Clients whose life style, culture, and/or values may be significantly different than your own
- Mandatory reporting of child and adult abuse
|
|
| If you are interested in applying for
a Child Support Specialist position in one of the 30 Interagency
Merit Counties, click on Career
Opportunities and follow the instructions. |
| |
| |
|
