Child Support Specialist

Make a Difference with DHSS

Our mission at the Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) is to improve the quality of life of Delaware citizens by promoting health and well-being, fostering self‑sufficiency, and protecting vulnerable populations. We prioritize personal and family independence by assisting individuals and families in a variety of life areas.

This position is located in the Operations Unit that establishes and enforces child support orders. The incumbent will work with members of the Department of Justice and Family Court. The Child Support Specialist I will have contact with the customer face‑to‑face, via phone, e‑mail, in court, or in the office setting, perform research and case management via various databases such as the Delaware Child Support System, and other government automated systems.

Upon satisfactory completion of department promotional standards and job requirements, employees may be eligible to be promoted to the next level.

Essential functions are fundamental, core functions common to all positions in the class series and are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all job duties for any one position in the class. Since class specifications are descriptive and not restrictive, incumbents can complete job duties of similar kind not specifically listed here.

• Interview obligees and assess their needs to determine the appropriate course of action. Update case records to include location of non‑custodial parent and custodial parent, asset identification, and establishment of paternity.
• Access multiple national, state, and local jurisdiction database systems to gather information for the processing, establishment, and enforcement of child support cases.
• Research/review obligees/obligors case record to prepare petitions, motions, wage attachments, and various legal documents.
• Review case record to answer questions from obligee/obligor, employers, in state and out‑of‑state agencies, and elected officials. Document all inquiries in an automated system.
• Refer obligee/obligor to other public/private agencies for services appropriate for their needs.
• Maintain records and reports and share information with other public/private agencies.
• Interview obligee/obligor to elicit sensitive information from persons of various socio‑economic backgrounds.
• May provide outreach/education programs by working with various public and private social service agencies, schools, and correctional facilities.
• Recognize crisis/dangerous situations and avoid/defuse through application of appropriate procedures/processes.

Applicants must have education, training and/or experience demonstrating competence in each of the following areas:

• Possession of an Associate's degree or higher in Behavioral or Social Science or related field.

OR

• Six months experience in case management which includes assessing, planning, developing, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating options and services to meet an individual's human service needs.
• Six months experience in interviewing clients and their families to obtain facts, explore issues and identify courses of action.
• Six months experience in applying laws, rules, regulations, standards, policies and procedures.
• Six months experience in using an automated information system to enter, update, modify, delete, retrieve/inquire and report on data.
• Six months experience in narrative report writing.
• Knowledge of math such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, percentages, or decimals.

This position is a classification organized