Child Support Specialist

Kenosha County, Wisconsin; Kenosha (WI); On-site; USD 33,000 - 37,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, dental and vision insurance

Flexible Spending Accounts

Notary Public

Retirement Plan

Job summary

Kenosha County is seeking a compassionate Child Support Specialist to join our Child Support Services team. You will use problem solving, investigative and case-management skills in human services, family law, and court processes.

Responsibilities include establishing and enforcing orders, locating non-custodial parents, communicating with families and agencies, preparing legal pleadings, and utilizing state systems. A strong focus on accuracy, confidentiality and client support is essential.

Qualifications

• Associate degree in human services or related field
• One-two years of experience in a publicly funded agency or field related to Human Services
• Bachelor’s degree in human services or related field (preferred)

Responsibilities

• Establish paternity, child support, and/or health insurance by drafting and filing court actions
• Establish paternity administratively via Paternity Acknowledgment Form and Administrative Paternity Process
• Review existing orders for modification based on timelines, income, changes in circumstances
• Filing of court actions/court preparation; draft, file, and initiate service of legal documents
• Enforce child support orders through judicial and administrative actions
• File actions with the court through WiKIDS/CCAP e-filing interface
• Perform locate efforts for non-custodial parents using locate tools and databases
• Maintain communication with clients, co-workers, other departments, and partner agencies
• Refer non-custodial parents to employment/training programs to improve payment ability
• Collect child support payments; draft and file orders to facilitate release of individuals in custody
• Recommend cases for possible criminal non-support prosecution
• Process incoming/outgoing intergovernmental cases
• Support parents who disclosed domestic abuse and inform them of safety options
• Perform other work as required or assigned

Skills

Customer service

Typing

Drafting legal documents

Case management

Data analysis

Critical thinking

Time management

Multi-tasking

Prioritization

Education

Associate degree in human services or related field

Bachelor’s degree in human services or related field

Job description

• Pay or shift range: $23.90 USD to $27.15 USD. New hires will start at the minimum pay rate for their respective positions; however, candidates with qualifying work experience and skills determined to be directly related to the position they are hired for may be offered a rate within the hiring range commensurate with their experience.

Description

CHILD SUPPORT SPECIALIST

Kenosha County is seeking a compassionate and motivated Child Support Specialist to join our Child Support Services team, which offers a unique opportunity for those who desire a challenging and rewarding career which positively impacts the well‑being of children and families. This position provides the opportunity to use your problem solving, investigative, and case‑management skills while developing valuable knowledge and experience in human services, family law, and court processes.

Join our team and help make a difference!

2026 Hiring Range: $23.90 - $27.15 per hour

Position Summary and Job Duties

Child Support Specialists utilize administrative tools and court actions to establish, collect, modify, and enforce child support and medical support orders, and to locate absent parents. Specialists communicate with parents, caretakers, staff in other county departments and agencies, and partner organizations, provide resources and referrals, analyze data, conduct investigations, prepare legal pleadings, and utilize various state and federal computer systems, databases, and reports during their daily activities. Job duties include:

• Establish paternity, child support, and/or health insurance by means of drafting and filing court actions through the Circuit Court


• Establish paternity administratively by utilizing the Paternity Acknowledgment Form and through the Administrative Paternity Process


• Review existing orders for modification of current support based on timelines, income, and substantial changes in circumstances


• Perform filing of court actions/court preparation; draft, file, and initiate service of legal documents


• Enforce child support orders through judicial and administrative actions


• File actions with the court through the WiKIDS/CCAP e-filing interface


• Perform locate efforts for non-custodial parents utilizing various locate tools and databases


• Maintain communication with clients, co-workers, other departments, and partner agencies


• Communicate with non-custodial parents who are unemployed or underemployed and refer them to employment and training programs to increase their ability to pay their child support


• Collect child support payments; draft and file orders to facilitate the release of individuals who are in custody due to a child support capias or commitment


• Recommend cases for possible criminal non-support prosecution


• Process incoming and outgoing intergovernmental cases


• Support parents who have disclosed domestic abuse and inform them of safety options


• Perform other work as required or assigned

Success Factors

Knowledge of:

• State and federal law as it applies to family matters including intergovernmental policies


• Kenosha County Circuit Court rules and court procedures


• Legal terminology, legal documents, and legal writing proficiency


• Federal case closure guidelines and timelines


• Family law and state/county policy as it pertains to Child Support, Juvenile Court, substitute care, guardianship, and paternity


• Kids Information Data System (KIDS), WiKIDS, Child Support Online Services (CSOS), Control-D, CARES/Cares Worker Web (CWW), and Circuit Court Access (CCAP), or ability to obtain required knowledge within six months of employment


• Familiarity with Wisconsin Statute 767

Skill in:

• Customer service, both internally and externally


• Typing, writing, drafting legal documents, organization, and analysis


• Evaluation and case management processes and techniques, interviewing techniques, investigation, research, and management of case files and computer records


• Critical thinking and problem solving


• Time management, multi-tasking, and prioritization

Ability to:

• Understand the court process and local judiciary structure


• Work with printing machines, photocopiers, electronic files and paper files


• Display persistence, ingenuity, and adaptability


• Display empathy and patience and use active listening


• Read and interpret child support financial data screens


• Communicate effectively with other team members, supervision, attorneys, partner agencies, and the public


• Quickly gather, organize, and evaluate data to meet deadlines


• Effectively interact with sensitivity with persons from diverse cultural, socioeconomic, educational, racial, ethnic, and professional backgrounds, and persons of all ages and lifestyles


• Adhere to strict confidentiality guidelines, safeguard Personally Identifiable Information (PII) and follow computer security guidelines

Job Requirements, Education, Training and Experience

Required Education and Experience

• Associate degree in human services or related field


• One-two years of experience in a publicly funded agency or field related to Human Services

Preferred Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in human services or related field


• Three-five years of experience in Child Support or Human Services related field with direct client contact


• Or any combination of education, training, and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities

Other Job Requirements

• Ability to become a Notary Public within six months of employment and maintain thereafter


• Valid driver’s license and acceptable driving record


• Regular attendance and punctuality


• Health, dental and vision insurance effective first of month following 30 days of employment with the ability to reduce premium contribution through participation in a wellness program


• Flexible Spending Accounts


• Employee Assistance Program


• Paid Time Off


• Twelve Paid Holidays


• Retirement Plan:Participation in the Wisconsin Retirement System, which includes county-paid life insurance


• Tuition Reimbursement

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• The position involves light physical demands, such as exerting up to 25 pounds of force occasionally, and up to 10 pounds of force frequently.

Selection Process

• Application Review - Qualifying


• Oral Interview - Qualifying


• FBI Fingerprinting and Background Investigation - Qualifying


• Drug Screen - Qualifying

Kenosha County is a Wisconsin Retirement System participating employer. Your participation is required, which includes an employee contribution.

The pay grade for this position is NE8 (Min. $23.90 – Max. $30.41).

Thank you for your interest in employment with Kenosha County!

Qualifications

Education

Required

Associates or better in Human Development and Learning.

Licenses & Certifications

Preferred

Notary Public

Equal Opportunity Employer

This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.