Fatherhood Outreach Specialist

Stronger Families for a Stronger Georgia. The Georgia Department of Human Services (DHS) is a dynamic state agency responsible for delivering a wide range of services to Georgia's most vulnerable populations. Our mission is to strengthen Georgia by providing individuals and families access to services that promote self-sufficiency, independence, and protect Georgia's vulnerable children and adults.

What we offer. Enjoy a generous benefits package that includes a flexible work schedule, unique training opportunities, employee retirement plan, 401(k) plan and 457 plan, 13 paid holidays, vacation & sick leave, medical, dental, vision, long/short-term care, life insurance, and employee discount programs; in addition to telework opportunities depending upon the position.

Start your career in public service. The Georgia Department of Human Services (DHS) has a division within it, the Division of Child Support Services (DCSS), which enhances the well-being of children by locating non-custodial parents, establishing paternity and support orders, enforcing and modifying support obligations, and collecting and distributing child support payments. This program promotes parent accountability and self-sufficiency while reducing the public responsibility for providing financial and medical support to children.

DCSS also administers several outreach programs, including, but not limited to, Fatherhood, Prison Re-Entry, and Parental Accountability Court. All of these outreach initiatives are devoted to increasing non-custodial parental involvement in the child's life. DCSS is seeking candidates for the position of Fatherhood Outreach Specialist
3. This position is based at the DCSS office located in Decatur, DeKalb County, GA.

• Maintain a working knowledge of local and county resources.
• Connect participants to other community resources including but not limited to: medical, mental health, chemical dependency, employment and training programs, food shelves, public assistance, SSI and SSDI, childcare, transportation, subsidized housing opportunities and legal assistance.
• Attend monthly and quarterly network meetings within their service area.
• Promote the Georgia Fatherhood Program throughout the community by establishing relationships with local schools, service providers, community groups, churches, senior programs, youth programs, and others.
• Establishes child support obligations and ensures that such obligations are met.
• Coordinates child support activities with legal, judicial, and public organizations and conducts administrative hearings.
• Communicates with clients and other constituents via telephone, email correspondence, and direct contact to ensure that support obligations are met.
• Manages a caseload to ensure that child support obligations are met.
• Supervises other case managers or serves as a team leader, as required.
• Performs other professional responsibilities as assigned by supervisor.

• A positive, welcoming attitude and outstanding internal/external customer service skills, including handling difficult issues with sensitivity.
• Ability to conduct oneself in a professional manner at all times and to communicate effectively and appropriately with a variety of people from many cultures and diverse backgrounds.
• Demonstrated strong organizational skills; experience prioritizing projects and working on several projects simultaneously with interruptions. Efficient and accurate in completing tasks as required, attending to detail, and able to anticipate and meet deadlines while working under pressure of multiple and changing priorities.
• Strong aptitude to work in a collaborative setting on multiple projects or programs.
• Exceptional critical thinking skills, good judgment, and decision-making abilities to monitor and manage a caseload to ensure that child support obligations are met.
• Ability to use customer service skills including active listening and negotiation ability.
• Strong proficiency in the use of Microsoft Office Suite and/or standard.
• High school diploma/GED AND three (3) years of direct job-related experience.

• OR

• Two (2) years of experience at the lower level…