CHILD SUPPORT SPECIALIST TRAINEE

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 and regional Offices of Child Support throughout the State.    

APPLIED PREVIOUSLY FOR THIS RECRUITMENT (18-004572-0001), 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 (18-004572-0001)?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...  

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 and regional Offices of Child Support 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 and regional Offices of Child Support will consider candidates from the eligible list who have selected the local office's location on their application. 

A Child Support Specialist Trainee is the entry level of child support work. Employees in this classification learn to investigate and analyze child support cases and initiate appropriate actions to establish, maintain and enforce support payments for dependent children in accordance with applicable Federal and State laws, rules and regulations.

They learn to perform duties related to establishing paternity and child support orders, negotiating agreements for child support payments and health insurance coverage and maintaining and enforcing the collection of current and past due amounts.

Learns to obtain, verify and analyze information from custodial and non-custodial parents, employers, financial institutions, private and governmental resources, health insurance carriers and others and use that information to locate non-custodial parents, establish paternity, verify income and assets and determine the ability of non-custodial parents to pay child support and provide health insurance

Learns to negotiate voluntary agreements for payment of child support and liquidation of arrears with custodial and non-custodial parents in accordance with State regulations and guidelines

Learns to initiate and prepare a variety of documents for administrative or court hearings, such as support payment modifications, wage withholdings, earnings assignments, interstate transmittals, subpoenas, bench warrants and show cause orders in order to collect current or past due child support payments

Learns to identify circumstances that contribute to a problem in collecting child support or providing health insurance coverage, determine which private and governmental services and programs, such as mediation services, employment and job counseling services, visitation access program or young fathers’ program address the problem and refer parents to those services and programs

Learns to monitor the receipt of child support payments and review case records and payment activities to determine the need for and type of enforcement activities warranted

Learns to investigate and resolve disputes resulting from license suspensions, tax intercepts and other remedies used to enforce and collect child support

Learns to initiate and negotiate establishment and enforcement of new or existing child support orders in out-of-state cases.

Learns to prepare and present testimony for judicial and administrative hearings related to child support enforcement and collection

Learns to prepare and review case records to ensure the validity of information to be presented in court by the legal services attorney

Learns to maintain and update case records by using automated systems and case folder documents; Learns to respond to inquiries from custodial and non-custodial parents, employers, courts, public officials, attorneys, other State agencies and out-of-state agencies in order to resolve issues related to child support cases

Learns to coordinate genetic testing arrangements with certified medical facilities

Learns to serve as liaison between Child Support Enforcement Administration and other State agencies, local agencies, the State’s Attorney’s Office and the courts

Learns to place appropriate markers on case records in cases in which family violence or abuse has occurred, monitor the case to ensure that custodial and non-custodial parents, other caretakers and children are protected and refer abused caretakers and dependent children to family shelters or other protective services

May learn to assist at orientation sessions for new applicants or for non-custodial parents by presenting information about child support program services and related services that may be helpful

May learn to represent the State as complainant in order to obtain or enforce court orders for support

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: An Associate of Arts degree in social services, human services, legal studies, public administration or similar fields of study from an accredited college or university.

PLEASE CLEARLY STATE ON YOUR APPLICATION THE MAJOR(S) OF ANY DEGREES EARNED. 

EXPERIENCE: None.

NOTES:

1. A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university may be substituted for the required education.

2. Experience investigating and analyzing child support cases and initiating appropriate actions to establish, maintain or enforce support payments for dependent children in accordance with Federal and State laws, rules and regulations may be substituted for the required education on a year-for-year basis. (IMPORTANT: If intending to use this substitution for education, please include job duties and information detailing how you possess the specific aspects of the Child Support Specialist-level experience listed above.) 

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 supplemental questionnaire to, Department of Human Services, Examination Services Unit, 311 W. Saratoga Street, Room 135, Baltimore, Maryland 21201.       If additional information is required, the preferred method is to upload.  If unable to upload, please email requested information only to monique.robertson@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 the recruitment process for this position, please call 410-767-7416.     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 applicants are encouraged to apply.We thank our Veterans for their service to our country, and encourage them to apply.