Entry-Level Child Support Specialist

Humboldt County; Eureka (CA); On-site; USD 42,000 - 56,000; Full time

Job summary

Humboldt County is seeking a Child Support Specialist I to manage a caseload, interview parents, and establish and enforce child support obligations under state guidelines. The role includes documenting actions, preparing legal documents, and coordinating with courts and agencies.

This entry-level position provides in-service training and progression to higher levels after one year of satisfactory performance, with opportunities to develop skills in paternity establishment and financial analysis.

Qualifications

• Two (2) years of full-time clerical experience which included interaction with the public.
• OR
• One year of full-time experience performing debt collections duties which included interviewing others for the purpose of collecting information.
• OR
• One year of full-time experience performing duties of a Child Support Assistant I or Office Assistant II in a Child Support Services Department.
• OR
• Completion of 60 semester or 90 quarter units of college. Qualifying experience or education may be combined in order to meet the above requirements. When combining education and experience; fifteen (15) semester units or twenty-two (22) quarter units equals six months of experience.

Responsibilities

• Manages a general caseload consisting of child support legal actions and the establishment, enforcement and collection of child support payment obligations based on established guidelines.
• Coordinates appointments for personal interviews with custodial and non-custodial parents, employers, and attorneys.
• Develops and analyzes information for the establishment of paternity.
• Uses a variety of methods, systems and procedures for locating information on custodial and non-custodial parents' assets, income, and liabilities.
• Evaluates income and expense data of custodial and non-custodial parents to determine and recommend child support payment obligations based on established guidelines.
• Responds to general inquiries and explains general child support laws, court orders, rules, regulations, and policies to public and staff.
• Participates in interviews to secure support agreements and to persuade responsible parties to make payments without recourse to legal action.
• Prepares and processes legal documents necessary for the establishment, collection, and enforcement of child support obligations.
• Documents and updates customer information, contact information, case actions/history logs, and records using a state-wide automated system.
• Provides case status information, explains the complaint resolution process, and answers case specific questions for all involved parties ensuring the verbiage used cannot be interpreted as legal advice.

Skills

Interpersonal communication

Interviewing

Explain laws to customers

Confidentiality

Education

60 semester or 90 quarter units

Tools

Automated case management system

Job description

Humboldt County is seeking a Child Support Specialist I to manage a caseload, interview parents, and establish and enforce child support obligations under state guidelines. The role includes documenting actions, preparing legal documents, and coordinating with courts and agencies.

This entry-level position provides in-service training and progression to higher levels after one year of satisfactory performance, with opportunities to develop skills in paternity establishment and financial analysis.