FAMILY INVESTMENT SPECIALIST I

This Statewide recruitment is reopened to allow additional candidates to apply and to establish a list of eligible candidates to be used to fill current and future vacancies occurring in our Local Departments of Social Services throughout the State.    

APPLIED PREVIOUSLY FOR THIS RECRUITMENT (18-000683-0001), DID NOT MEET THE MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND WOULD NOW LIKE TO REAPPLY?                                                                      Please contact the HR Analyst listed at the top of this job posting for assistance. 

PREVIOUSLY APPLIED AND HAVE BEEN APPROVED FOR THIS RECRUITMENT (18-000683-0001)?You do not need to reapply. You remain on the eligible list for this recruitment; your expiration date has been extended into next year. If you have any questions concerning your application, please contact the HR Analyst listed at the top of this job posting for assistance.   

Placement on this list as Best-Qualified is not a guarantee that you will be offered an interview for any given vacancy...ALL approved candidates will be placed on this list of eligible candidates in one Best-Qualified randomized scoring band. The list of eligible candidates will be used by our local offices as vacancies become available...

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STATEWIDE

This Statewide recruitment is reopened to allow additional candidates to apply and to establish a list of eligible candidates to be used to fill current and future vacancies occurring in our Local Department of Social Services throughout the State.  

Applicants should indicate on their applications all counties (or Baltimore City) where they are willing to accept employment for this classification. As positions become available, our Local Departments of Social Services will consider candidates from the eligible list who have selected the local department's location on their application.  

A Family Investment Specialist I is the entry level of work providing direct services to individual customers or families by determining customer eligibility for multiple Family Investment Administration programs in a local Department of Social Services.

Employees interview customers to explain program requirements and options, to collect and complete required documentation, to refer customers to other program services or agencies as appropriate and to monitor customer progress and use of assistance.

Learns to interview applicants for Public Assistance, Medical Assistance and/or Food Stamps in the Family Investment Administration (FIA) of the Department of Human Resources in order to determine customer eligibility and need for FIA programs

Learns to explain program requirements and procedures to individual customers or in a group setting

Learns to elicit information as to family composition, employment, health status, financial obligations, parental status and living arrangements

Learns to calculate incomes and resources to establish benefit level

Learns to determine program eligibility in accordance with federal, State and local laws, policies, rules and regulations

Learns to check public records, such as birth records and real estate transactions

Learns to contact individuals, employers, landlords, attorneys, financial institutions, medical offices, and government and community agencies to obtain, verify or clarify information required for eligibility determinations, such as income, resources, residency and household composition

Learns to establish and maintain case records using computerized database systems

Learns to contact customers regarding discrepancies and refer questionable cases to the fraud unit for further follow-up

Learns to monitor case progress and apply appropriate sanctions when necessary

Learns to provide information on and make referrals to service agencies, organizations and vendors for appropriate services and information to meet customer health, housing, food, employment assistance, child care and transportation needs

Learns to serve as a customer advocate

Learns to provide basic counseling and problem solving support

May learn to make visits to customers homes to gather information

May learn to prepare appeal packages or testify in administrative appeals hearings

Performs other related duties

Applicants must meet all minimum (and any selective) qualifications to be considered, and to appear on the list of people eligible for hire. Please read all requirements before applying.

EDUCATION: Possession of a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university.

EXPERIENCE: None.

NOTES:

1. Applicants may substitute public contact experience involving negotiating, interviewing, explaining information, gathering and compiling data, performing analysis of data, writing correspondence, and completing mathematical or legal tasks on a year-for-year basis for up to four years of the required education. (IMPORTANT: If intending to use this substitution for education, please include job duties and information detailing how you possess the specific aspects of public contact experience listed above.) 

2. Applicants may substitute possession of an associate of arts degree in Income Maintenance/Family Investment and two years of experience involving public contact and performance of support functions directly related to Family Investment program operations for the required education.

3. These requirements are established by the Family Investment Administration by authority provided in Human Services Article Title 5, Subtitle 2, Section 204 (b)(1) of the Annotated Code of Maryland. The Office of Personnel Services and Benefits of the Department of Budget and Management and the Department of Human Services Examination Services Unit do not have the authority to accept substitutions or equivalents.

Employees in this classification may be assigned duties which require the operation of a motor vehicle. Employees assigned such duties will be required to possess a motor vehicle operator’s license valid in the State of Maryland.

Please make sure that you provide sufficient information on your application to show that you meet the qualifications for this recruitment. 

All information concerning your qualifications must be submitted by the closing date. We will not consider information submitted after this date. 

Successful candidates will be ranked as Best Qualified and placed on the eligible (employment) list for at least one year.

The examination will consist of a rating of your education, training, and experience as presented on your application and as they relate to the requirements of the position. 

You may be asked to complete a supplemental questionnaire.  The supplemental questionnaire may be used as part of the rating process.  Therefore, it is important that you provide complete and accurate information on your application.

For education obtained outside the U.S., a copy of the equivalent American education as determined by a foreign credential evaluation service is required prior to hire.

STATE OF MARYLAND BENEFITS

 The online application process is STRONGLY preferred. If you are unable to apply online, you may mail a paper application and supplement questionnaire to: Department of Human Services, Examination Services Unit, 311 W. Saratoga Street, Room 142 Baltimore, Maryland 21201.

All mailed documents must include the applicant's name and the job number and must be received by 5 p.m on the closing date. Resumes will NOT be accepted in lieu of completing the application.

If additional information is required, the preferred method is to upload. If unable to upload, please email requested information only to cynthia.mcmillian@maryland.gov. Only additional materials that are required will be accepted for this recruitment. All additional information must be received by the closing date and time.

If you have any questions concerning this recruitment process for this position, please contact 410-767-7199.

TTY Users: call via Maryland Relay.

As an equal opportunity employer, Maryland is committed to recruiting, retaining and promoting employees who are reflective of the State’s diversity. People with disabilities and bilingual candidates are encouraged to apply. We thank our Veterans for their service to our country.