Child Support Officer

Fillmore County•Preston, MN

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The Child Support Officer manages child support cases and takes appropriate administrative and legal action to establish, modify, and enforce support and medical support orders. The role reviews case histories and financial information, calculates income and support recommendations, prepares legal documents and referrals, conducts interviews and conferences, and may attend and testify in court. The officer also handles interstate and intrastate actions, case maintenance, payment monitoring, and client inquiries. The position provides customer service to clients who may be experiencing difficult personal or financial circumstances. It involves communicating with parents, attorneys, employers, court personnel, and other government or community organizations; maintaining accurate case files and records in PRISM and other computer systems; and making referrals to appropriate services. Employees may also be assigned a variety of duties as part of their role with Fillmore County. Work is performed in an office setting and requires driving and client visits. The position may involve exposure to angry individuals and environmental or health issues, as well as stress from dealing with emotional issues and conflicts. It is generally light-duty, with occasional exertion of up to 20 pounds, and sustained use of computer keyboards and video screens.

Requirements

An associate of arts degree in criminal justice, law enforcement, paralegal studies, social work, psychology, human services, or business administration; completion of a technical or community college child support AAS or diploma program; OR a high school diploma or GED plus one of the qualifying experience options.
With a high school diploma or GED: two years of child support program experience involving responsibility for part of child support collections, or experience in a government agency responsible for fee collection; OR three years providing clerical or other support to child support staff, or experience as a legal secretary or paralegal performing relevant case research and trial preparation; OR four years of private-sector collections experience.
Valid Minnesota Driver’s License.
Ability to collaborate as a team member and provide effective customer service.
Effective oral and written communication skills.
Ability to perform accurate mathematical calculations and basic computations.
Considerable knowledge of child support laws, rules, regulations, and policies; legal processes related to child support orders and hearings; data privacy laws and rules; and rules of evidence and court procedures.
Knowledge of federal and state income maintenance program laws, rules, and regulations; legal terms, forms, and the substance of legal documents; community resources; personal financial management; debt collection approaches and laws; and human behavior.
Ability to organize and prioritize work, process a large volume of work quickly and accurately, and work independently.
Ability to handle hostile or uncooperative people and maintain effective working relationships across cultural, occupational, and socioeconomic backgrounds.
Ability to analyze facts and evidence, make sound recommendations, and explain complex laws, rules, regulations, and court orders.
Ability to conduct effective interviews and communicate clearly with attorneys, child support magistrates, coworkers, clients, court personnel, human services staff, other organizations, and employers.
Ability to enter and retrieve data using a computer keyboard and to maintain thorough case files in compliance with state and federal laws.
Ability to prepare clear, concise, comprehensive reports and court documents in a paralegal capacity.
Ability to use email, Microsoft Outlook, web browsing, and Microsoft Office products.
Ability to meet the position’s physical and mental requirements, including sitting, manual dexterity, grasping, talking, hearing, typing, seeing, and occasional exertion of up to 20 pounds; reasonable accommodations may be made.
Ability to manage stress and pressure associated with emotional issues and conflicts.

Nice To Haves

Knowledge of PRISM software.
Knowledge of interviewing techniques.
Knowledge of legal processes and systems, including administrative law.
Knowledge of laws and ethics pertaining to data privacy.
Ability to explain laws or legal processes.
Ability to prepare and present legal documents.
Skills in mediation, complaint resolution, and problem solving.

Responsibilities

Review cases to determine necessary action; research case history and review party-provided information and PRISM records.
Calculate income using hourly wages, potential earning ability, and self-employment tax returns; gather financial information and recommend child support amounts.
Prepare legal documents and supporting referrals for the county attorney; prepare documents for review and signature and interview witnesses as needed.
Conduct pre- and post-hearing conferences with clients and attorneys; attend and testify at district court and expedited process hearings.
Initiate interstate and intrastate actions to establish or enforce child support orders, including actions involving parties in other jurisdictions.
Negotiate child support-related settlements outside court for approval by the appropriate authority.
Initiate legal action to establish support or reimbursement orders and enforce existing support and medical support orders; select and refer cases to the county attorney.
Participate in child support modification and appeals hearings.
Process cases to comply with court orders regarding income withholding, cost-of-living adjustments, liens, medical insurance, health care coverage, and administrative enforcement remedies.
Assist with preliminary investigations of suspected fraud and prepare cases for possible fraud prosecution.
Interview custodial and non-custodial parents about case status, legal actions, employment, ability to pay, payment information, and other relevant circumstances.
Arrange genetic testing appointments for alleged fathers, mothers, and children to establish paternity.
Locate absent parents and obligors using PRISM, government agencies and systems, law enforcement, employers, public records, and other information sources.
Gather and provide client information; maintain current case files and PRISM records; handle correspondence and case maintenance.
Analyze reports to identify cases needing review, problem cases, potential administrative enforcement or legal action, and cases requiring annual cost-of-living adjustments.
Contact recipients of public assistance overpayments, establish recovery payment plans, and monitor compliance.
Retrieve, enter, and update information in paper files and statewide child support and income maintenance systems to correct records, monitor case status, and track enforcement actions.
Respond to inquiries about the child support program from clients, employers, attorneys, and other parties.
Refer clients to other agencies and services, such as social services, legal services, and job services, when appropriate.
Provide supervisors with information about workflow, processing, and problem cases.
Implement program changes required by the legislature and the Department of Human Services.
Monitor billings and payments, contact obligors about delinquent payments, and determine whether cases meet closure criteria.
Provide customer service in person, by phone, email, and written correspondence; exchange appropriate case information with court workers and governmental organizations.
Develop working knowledge of and comply with County and departmental policies; maintain professional relationships and represent Fillmore County appropriately.
Keep the immediate supervisor informed of important matters related to job responsibilities.