Child Support Officer

The Child Support Officer I performs a wide variety of child support duties consisting of maintaining a caseload, locating and interviewing custodial and non‑custodial parents and others to elicit factual information for the purpose of establishing child support obligations and enforcing child support laws; arranges for support payments when possible; prepares cases for court hearings as necessary; and performs related work as required.

Working under close supervision, Child Support Officer I is the entry/trainee level in the Child Support Officer series. Employees in this class receive in‑service training, and are given detailed instructions in the performance of duties related to child support laws, regulations, and a broad range of child support casework activities. As requisite skills and knowledge are developed, greater independence and the full scope of responsibility are exercised.

Employees are expected to promote to Child Support Officer II after one year of satisfactory performance at the entry/trainee level.

• Manages a general caseload consisting of child support legal actions and the establishment, enforcement and collection of child support payment obligations based on established guidelines.
• Coordinates appointments for personal interviews with custodial and non‑custodial parents, employers, and attorneys.
• Develops and analyzes information for the establishment of paternity.
• Uses a variety of methods, systems and procedures for locating information on custodial and non‑custodial parents' assets, income, and liabilities.
• Evaluates income and expense data of custodial and non‑custodial parents to determine and recommend child support payment obligations based on established guidelines.
• Responds to general inquiries and explains general child support laws, court orders, rules, regulations, and policies to public and staff.
• Participates in interviews to secure support agreements and to persuade responsible parties to make payments without recourse to legal action.
• Prepares and processes legal documents necessary for the establishment, collection, and enforcement of child support obligations.
• Documents and updates customer information, contact information, case actions/history logs, and records using a state‑wide automated system.
• Provides case status information, explains the complaint resolution process, and answers case specific questions for all involved parties ensuring the verbiage used cannot be interpreted as legal advice.
• Applies federal, state, and local codes, procedures, and rules in establishing and processing child support cases.
• Coordinates and/or conducts genetic tests when needed.
• Performs related duties as assigned.

Knowledge of:

• Civil and criminal law, and Federal and California laws and regulations pertaining to the establishment, and enforcement of child support obligations.
• Sources, methods and techniques used to locate non‑custodial parents, relatives and related persons, assets, income, and liabilities.
• Techniques and methods for establishing paternity.
• Child Support specific collection methods and techniques.
• Legal terminology used when explaining legal procedures to customers or the public.
• When and how to prepare and process a variety of child support related legal documents in a clear and concise manner.
• The structure and content of the English language.
• Basic mathematics and business arithmetic, including addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, fractions, percentages, and decimals.

Skill/Ability to:

• Apply specialized Federal child support laws and procedures as they apply to intergovernmental and international cases.
• Explain child support procedures, regulations, and requirements to individuals from a wide variety of educational and cultural backgrounds.
• Use effective interviewing techniques to interview a wide variety of people, over the telephone and in person.
• Use patience, tact and courtesy in firmly dealing with people who may be uncooperative, unreasonable, angry, upset, or hostile.
• Collect DNA samples to establish paternity.
• Use sound independent judgment to…