Child support specialist

Position Number: 22107664

County: Pulaski

Posting End Date: [[postingEndDate]]

Anticipated Starting Salary: $43,088

The mission of the Department of Finance and Administration is to provide Arkansas citizens convenient, effective, and courteous service which will encourage voluntary compliance with tax, license, and child support laws.

Position Information

Job Series: Child Support
Classification: Child Support Specialist – Career Path
Class Code: PCS01P
Pay Grade: SGS04
Salary Range: $43,088 - $63,770

Job Summary

The Child Support Specialist is responsible for providing essential services in the administration of the child support program, ensuring that children receive the financial support they are legally entitled to. This position requires strong interpersonal skills, a comprehensive understanding of child support laws and procedures, and the ability to handle sensitive family situations with professionalism and empathy. The Child Support Specialist will work directly with parents, custodians, attorneys, and other stakeholders to establish, enforce, and monitor child support orders, ensuring compliance with state and federal guidelines.

Primary Responsibilities

• Manage a caseload of child support cases, ensuring that all aspects of the case are processed efficiently and in compliance with state laws and regulations. This includes opening, closing, and updating cases, as well as monitoring payments and adjustments.
• Assist in the establishment of child support orders by gathering necessary documentation, communicating with involved parties, and preparing legal documents for submission to the courts. Ensure that all relevant information is accurate and up to date for the purpose of creating fair and enforceable support orders.
• Monitor and track child support payments, ensuring timely collection and distribution of funds. Investigate discrepancies in payments and initiate follow-up actions to address issues such as non-payment, underpayment, or overpayment. Maintain accurate records of all transactions.
• Work with parents, employers, and legal entities to enforce child support orders. This may include initiating income withholding orders, intercepting tax refunds, and coordinating with other state agencies, child support programs in other states or countries, and law enforcement agencies to collect overdue payments. Ensure all enforcement actions comply with applicable laws and regulations.
• Provide exceptional customer service by responding to inquiries from custodial parents, non-custodial parents, attorneys, and other stakeholders. Address questions regarding child support orders, payment status, case updates, and modifications. Communicate clearly and professionally both in writing and verbally.
• Regularly review cases to ensure that child support amounts are correct and consistent with any changes in circumstances. Work with families to modify child support orders as needed due to changes in income, custody arrangements, or other relevant factors.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date records for each case, ensuring that all actions, communications, and payments are properly documented in accordance with state regulations. Prepare reports and case summaries as required by supervisors or management.
• Review various administrative actions to confirm that the proposed action is appropriate based on agency policy and the facts of the case to enforce child support obligations. Prepare for and testify at legal and quasi-judicial proceedings regarding the enforcement of child support obligations.
• Maintain confidentiality of sensitive case information and ensure compliance with state and federal regulations concerning privacy and data security. Adhere to all ethical standards and confidentiality requirements in handling case details.

Knowledge and Skills

• Strong verbal and written communication skills are essential for explaining child support processes, answering inquiries, and negotiating solutions with clients. The ability to articulate complex information in a clear, concise, and professional manner is critical.
• Ability to identify problems, analyze case details, and develop appropriate solutions. The Child Support Specialist must be able to think critically when handling complex cases or resolving issues related to payment discrepancies or enforcement actions.
• Strong interpersonal skills to effectively communicate with a diverse range of clients, including custodial and non-custodial parents, attorneys, and court personnel. Empathy and understanding are key in managing difficult or emotionally charged situations.
• Exceptional attention to detail is essential when managing cases, ensuring accurate record-keeping, processing payments, and preparing documents. Small errors can have significant consequences in child support cases, so a meticulous approach is necessary.
• Ability to mediate disputes and resolve conflicts between parties in a professional and neutral manner. Skilled in de-escalating tense situations and negotiating amicable solutions when possible.

Minimum Qualifications

An associate’s or bachelor’s degree in social work, criminal justice, business administration, or a related field is required OR a high school diploma or equivalent is required, plus two (2) years of experience in a customer service role, legal support, case management, or a related field. Satisfaction of the minimum qualifications, including years of experience and service, does not entitle employees to automatic progression within the job series. Promotion to the next classification level is at the discretion of the department and the Office of Personnel Management, taking into consideration the employee’s demonstrated skills, competencies, performance, workload responsibilities, and organizational needs.

Licensure/Certifications

N/A

OTHER JOB RELATED EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE MAY BE SUBSTITUTED FOR ALL OR PART OF THESE BASIC REQUIREMENTS, EXCEPT FOR CERTIFICATION OR LICENSURE REQUIREMENTS, UPON APPROVAL OF THE QUALIFICATIONS REVIEW COMMITTEE.

The State of Arkansas is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, age, disability, citizenship, national origin, genetic information, military or veteran status, or any other status or characteristic protected by law.

ONLY COMPLETED APPLICATIONS WITH WORK HISTORY WILL BE ACCEPTED.

Applications must include complete work history and references. A resume may accompany the state application but will not be substituted for any part of the application. False, misleading, or incomplete statements may result in disciplinary action and possible termination.

Veteran Preference: A copy of a DD-214 must be submitted to the Hiring Official at the time of interview to be considered for Veteran Preference.

This employer participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S. If E-Verify cannot confirm that you are authorized to work, this employer is required to give you written instructions and an opportunity to contact Department of Homeland Security (DHS) or Social Security Administration (SSA) so you can begin to resolve the issue before the employer can take any action against you, including terminating your employment. Employers can only use E-Verify once you have accepted a job offer and completed the Form I-9. For more information on E-Verify, or if you believe that your employer has violated its E-Verify responsibilities, please contact DHS at (888) 897-7781 or dhs.gov/e-verify.