TCSEPP Coordinator (Case Manager): Social Work Research & Public Service - UTK

University of Tennessee, Knoxville; Bolivar (TN); Hybrid; USD 45,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville—College of Social Work, through SWORPS, seeks a Coordinator for the Tennessee Child Support Employment & Parenting Program (TCSEPP). The role is grant-funded and involves travel across Fayette, Hardeman, and McNairy Counties, TN.

You will build trust with participants, provide case management, and coordinate with partners to support employment and parenting goals. You’ll develop action plans, maintain records, and engage with the Child Support system while

Qualifications

• Two years of customer/client (case management) experience; or two additional years of experience in lieu of a degree.
• Bachelor’s Degree required.
• Valid driver’s license, automobile at disposal, and continuous automobile liability coverage required.
• Abilities: assess participant needs; build trusting relationships; interact with partners; advocate for participants; travel to multiple counties; work independently and in teams; proficient in Microsoft Office; experience with data management systems.

Responsibilities

• Determine participant eligibility and assess barriers; refer for identified barriers.
• Develop individual action plans and provide one-on-one case management for job readiness and emotional support.
• Maintain records in TCSES, Apricot, Excel, etc.
• Monitor child support eligibility, payments, involvement, and employment.
• Develop and maintain partnerships with local agencies to assist participants facing barriers to employment.
• Attend community interagency meetings to share resources and information.
• Participate in partner meetings and provide regular progress updates to Child Support staff and attorneys.
• Maintain a court presence to foster positive relationships with the Child Support system and recruit participants.
• Participate in job/resource fairs.
• Handle fiscal tasks including One Card reconciliations, gift card reconciliations, travel reports.

Skills

Participant assessment

Relationship building

Partner collaboration

Advocacy

Communication

Travel

MS Office

Data management

Education

Bachelor’s Degree

Job description

Job Description

Build trust daily. Strengthen community partnerships. Encourage lasting change.The University of Tennessee, Knoxville—College of Social Work, through the Social Work Office of Research and Public Service (SWORPS)—is hiring a Coordinator for the Tennessee Child Support Employment & Parenting Program (TCSEPP).

Job DescriptionBuild trust daily. Strengthen community partnerships. Encourage lasting change.The University of Tennessee, Knoxville—College of Social Work, through the Social Work Office of Research and Public Service (SWORPS)—is hiring a Coordinator for the Tennessee Child Support Employment & Parenting Program (TCSEPP). TCSEPP Coordinators are based throughout Tennessee and serve their assigned counties. You’ll cultivate trust and communication between participants and the systems they interact with, and when appropriate support engagement with custodial parents and children. This is hands-on, relationship-based work. You’ll build trust with participants, coach and encourage them, and help them communicate more effectively with the systems they’re navigating. When it’s appropriate, you may also support healthy communication with children and custodial parents. Based in FAYETTE, HARDEMAN, and MCNAIRY COUNTIES, TN, you’ll also connect participants to a strong mix of community resources—both formal services and informal supports—and you’ll do outreach and education to help more parents (and community partners) understand and engage with the program. This is a grant-funded position and is contingent upon the continued funding of the grant.

Responsibilities

• Determine participant eligibility and properly assess participants' barriers and make appropriate referrals for identified barriers
• Develop individual action plans for participants and provide one-on-one case management to participants to assist them with job readiness activities and emotional support and encouragement
• Maintain accurate records of all participant interactions in appropriate places, i.e. TCSES, Apricot, Excel spreadsheet, etc.
• Monitor participants’ child support eligibility & payments; program involvement & compliance as well as employment.
• Develop and maintain partnerships with local agencies to assist participants with barriers to employment
• Attend community interagency meetings to learn about and share available resources and information
• Participate in partner meetings
• Provide regular updates to Child Support staff and attorneys on participant progress
• Maintain a court presence to foster a positive relationship with the Child Support legal system and to recruit and/or enroll potential participants
• Participate in job/resource fairs
• Fiscal tasks including but not limited to One Card reconciliation and uploading & documenting receipts, monthly gift card reconciliation, and travel reports

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• Experience: Two years of customer/client (case management) experience. In lieu of a degree candidates with two additional years of experience will be considered.
• Education: Bachelor’s Degree
• Must have valid driver’s license, automobile at their disposal, and a current automobile liability policy with continuous coverage.
• Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:
• Ability to assess participant needs.
• Ability to develop positive & trusting relationships with participants and offer emotional support.
• Ability to positively interact with partners including child support, court, attorneys, etc.
• Ability to promote the program to potential participants, partners, and employers.
• Ability to advocate for participants.
• Ability to work independently and within a team setting.
• Ability to travel to multiple counties to serve participants.
• Ability to be flexible with respect to changing needs of the project.
• Excellent oral communication skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office.
• Ability to work independently and in team settings.
• Experience with data management systems.

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis without need now or in the future for sponsorship for employment-based visa status.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience: Experience working with non-custodial parents and/or Employment programs; Experience collaborating with community groups and/or social service organizations.

Work Location

• This position is hybrid and requires travel throughout Fayette, Hardeman, and McNairy Counties, TN (and occasional travel outside this area on a limited basis).Applicants must live within one hour of Fayette, Hardeman, and McNairy Counties, TN.

Compensation And Benefits

• UT market range: 07 - Find more information on the UT Market Range structure here
• Starting salary: $50,000
• UT has a full benefits package including comprehensive heath insurances, strong retirements options including employer matching, generous time off including the week between Christmas and New Years, tuition waivers and hundreds of additional discounts and benefits.Find more information on UT Benefits here

About The College/Department/Division

Since 1975, the Social Work Office of Research and Public Service (SWORPS) has served as the community outreach arm of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville's College of Social Work — partnering with public, private, and nonprofit organizations across Tennessee and beyond. Our mission is to build partnerships that leverage applied research, technology, and human connection to improve lives, guided by a vision of thriving communities with improved outcomes for all. Now celebrating 50 years of impact, SWORPS continues to be guided by five core values: Innovation, Access, Understanding, Collaboration, and Integrity. Joining SWORPS means becoming part of a mission-driven team that bridges communities and transforms lives — not just through our work with partner agencies, but through hands-on community engagement across the state. Our team — proudly known as "SWORPees" — is organized into divisions focused on Applied Research & Evaluation, Field-Based Services, and Technology & Development, all supported by a dedicated business office that keeps our operations running smoothly. Learn more about SWORPS and some of our programs and resources by visiting our webpage: https://www.sworps.tennessee.edu/

About Us

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, has shaped leaders, changemakers, and innovative thinkers since its founding in 1794. The university is home to more than 38,000 students and 10,000 statewide employees—the Volunteers—who uphold the university’s tradition of lighting the way for others through leadership and service. UT Knoxville offers over 900 programs of study across 14 degree-granting colleges and schools. As Tennessee’s flagship land-grant university, its footprint spans the entire state. The university holds the highest Carnegie classification for research activity and has deep partnerships with industry leaders and the US Department of Energy’s largest multidisciplinary laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory. The Knoxville campus serves and recruits for UT Knoxville, including the Institute of Agriculture and the Space Institute, as well as the UT Institute of Public Service. UT Knoxville considers its employees its number one asset. With values that focus on work-life balance, compensation, and innovation leadership, all Vols are supported to advance professionally. Employees have access to career development and coaching, continued education, and an extensive list of development and training possibilities. The Volunteer employee experience implements structures and practices to attract and retain top-tier talent, fostering a strong staff community and supporting a culture of involvement and engagement for everyone. The university holds a strong commitment to its land-grant mission of learning and engagement, with a tradition of service and leadership that carries that Volunteer spirit throughout the state and around the world. It has been ranked nationally as “Best Employer for New Graduates,” “One of America’s Best Large Employers,” and “Best Workplace for Women,” and has been designated as “Best Place for Working Parents” by Forbes Magazine.