Child Support Specialist I - Cherokee Nation

Under immediate general supervision and is considered the entry-level case management position for child support.  Provides regular case management services.  Establishes and enforces child support obligations, assists with coordinating paternity establishment processes, monitors and manages a caseload, updates case and financial information on database systems, facilitates a holistic approach to servicing the needs of the  child, custodial and non-custodial parties, provides location services and serves as the liaison between all parties in ensuring support is provided to the child.

Provides holistic approach to servicing the child, custodial and non-custodial parties by recommending additional support remedies and providing referrals that will assist in ensuring child(ren) are supported.  This requires specialists to have an evolving referral source knowledgebase.  Responsible to maintain a normal size caseload or completing financial records history, whatever is assigned to them to complete.  May assist in establishing paternity, which include interviewing all parties in a neutral manner to obtain paternity affidavit forms, scheduling of genetic testing and counseling parties regarding results and future actions that may need to be completed.  Assists in recommending appropriate court actions based upon factual data when establishing child support orders, completing modifications, or court enforcement remedies to child support attorney and if necessary, to the Court.  May assist in facilitating meetings with all parties to determine best course of action when working on child support actions involving their specific cases.  Will provide professional and courteous customer services to all program participants.  Responsible to document all case activity on database systems on a regular and accurate basis.  Submits monthly reports regarding case management or job duties as requested by supervisory staff.  Prepares and assists in ensuring all legal documents are ready for presentation to both state and/or tribal court systems.  Assists in preparing court dockets and notifying parties of court appearances on assigned cases.  Responsible to keep up with all assigned cases court hearings and attend with attorney.  Routinely attends docket and individual staffing involving all assigned cases.  Performs all routine procedural case management activities on assigned cases. Performs investigate casework for gathering pertinent information, discovering assets, locating individuals, etc…  Assists in analyzing, computing and adjusting child support obligations, arrearages and judgments owed to parties for tribal and state agencies or court as assigned.  May represent the program in hearings and appears in court systems as potential fact witness.  Monitors assigned cases for regular monthly payments and routinely establishes income assignments.  Works to determine and initiate completing additional enforcement remedies for assigned cases when necessary. These remedies could include non-docket pay reviews, attending child support parenting training, court contempt actions, revoking licenses, implementing tax intercepts and passport denial actions, completing lien and levy actions, referring cases to credit bureaus, etc…  Completes proactive efforts to ensure obstacles for payments are discussed and plans implemented with non-custodial party to ensure regular child support.  May assist with other special projects or assignments as necessary.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES 

No supervisory responsibility.

EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENT 

Bachelor’s degree from a 4-year college or university in Social Work, Accounting, Business Management, Behavioral/Science, Legal Studies, General Studies, Children/Family or Human Services, or related field; or six (6) years of related experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENT 

No additional experience required.

COMPUTER SKILLS 

An individual should know Accounting software, Database software, Internet software, Spreadsheet software, and Word Processing software.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS 

Must possess a valid driver’s license with a driving history verified through a motor vehicle report that meets requirements for Cherokee Nation underwriting rating.

OTHER QUALIFICATIONS

The employee must not be and will not be under sanction by the United States Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General (OIG) or by the General Services Administration (GSA) or listed on the OIG's Cumulative Sanction Report, or the GSA's List of Excluded Providers, or listed on the OIG's List of Excluded Individuals/Entities (LEIE).  Must meet and maintain pre-employment and periodic background investigations that ensure the safety for all minor age program participants.  Must possess great customer service skills and exhibit an approachable and positive demeanor and be willing to work in a team environment.  An awareness of family dynamics and child development is preferred.  Must demonstrate an ability to work with all socio-economics backgrounds in a respectful, positive and helpful manner.  

PHYSICAL DEMANDS  

While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl and taste or smell. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.