Child Support Specialist I/II

Job Description:

Child Support Specialist I/II

Description

About the Opportunity

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE

The Stanislaus County Department of Child Support Services (SCDCSS) provides a broad range of support services to its customers including establishment of parentage, establishment of child support orders, enforcement or modification of child support orders, location of absent parents, and collection of support orders. SCDCSS partners with its 130 agency employees, other county, State and Federal government agencies, and numerous community-based organizations to provide easily accessed and responsive services. SCDCSS is classified as a 'large' county based on its caseload of approximately 21,604 active case files. Annual collections for FFY 2024/2025 were $57.6 million.

The ideal candidate will have a strong passion for working with people and serving the public along with strong customer service skills. The Department is looking for candidates that will have the ability to read, interpret, and apply information such as complex Federal and State legislation and regulations. The ideal candidate will have the skills needed to effectively organize and prioritize multiple work assignments in addition to excellent problem-solving skills. This position is mainly held in an office setting, working on a computer engaged with tasks such as researching and gathering information, updating case information, and initiating and enforcing legal actions and does not directly interact with children. Child Support Specialist handle personal and sensitive issues for families needing assistance with establishing parentage, child support or medical support orders and enforcing those orders. The Department promotes a culture of engagement and is seeking individuals who will be fully involved in helping move the organization forward in meeting its performance goals, while positively impacting and making a difference to the children and families in our community.

To learn more about the Department of Child Support Services, click here .

ABOUT THE POSITION

Child Support Specialist I - $22.75 - $27.65

Child Support Specialist II - $26.63 - $32.37

The Child Support Specialist I is the entry-level classification in the series. This individual is responsible for locating absent parents, investigating the ability to pay child support, enforcing orders to collect legally mandated support, enforcing medical support, interpreting and explaining legal provisions and regulations, and testifying in court. Because of the delicate nature of the casework, individuals in this position must establish a high degree of rapport to obtain the required information and are involved in the legal processes, both civil and criminal, as related to the support of minor children. The Child Support Specialist I initially works under the direct supervision of the Child Support Supervisor. As experience is gained, there is greater independence of action within established guidelines. It is expected that the Level I will advance to the Level II after gaining experience and achieving proficiency. It is the practice of the Department of Child Support Services to hire at the Child Support Specialist I level.

The Child Support Specialist II is the journey level classification in the series. This individual is responsible for locating absent parents, investigating the ability to pay child support, enforcing orders to collect legally mandated support, enforcing medical support, interpreting and explaining legal provisions and regulations, and testifying in court. Because of the delicate nature of the casework, individuals in this position must establish a high degree of rapport to obtain the required information and are involved in the legal processes, both civil and criminal, as related to the support of minor children. The Child Support Specialist II works under general supervision and is expected to be fully competent and experienced in performing a variety of difficult assignments within established guidelines.

Unless otherwise provided, this position is part of the Classified Service of the County and is assigned to the Community and Health Services bargaining unit for labor relations purposes.

Individuals who are in a full-time classification position are required to serve a twelve-month probationary period, which may be extended an additional six months, for a total of eighteen months.

Incumbents may also be subject to overtime, standby, callback, weekend, holiday and shift assignments as identified in their MOU (Memorandum of Understanding).

The Job Task Analysis provides information detailing the physical and functional demands of the classification. For the complete job task analysis, visit the Risk Management website at http://www.stancounty.com/riskmgmt/ under the "Disability" tab.

Typical Tasks

• Apply Federal and State guidelines and regulations to each case as appropriate;
• Complete work using various computer programs and databases;
• Locate absent parents;
• Establish and enforce child support orders;
• Investigate ability to pay child support;
• Collect legally mandated support;
• Interpret and explain legal provisions, documents and regulations;
• Testify in court as required;
• Work a 10-hour day under general supervision and perform a variety of difficult assignments within established guidelines;
• Communicate effectively with the general public, staff, attorneys, and governmental agencies;
• Communicate effectively with customers in a Call Center environment;
• Exercise sound and impartial judgment in all case work and public contact;
• Interview Custodial Parents and Non-Custodial Parents to initiate case files and gather factual information on all parties concerned;
• Maintain caseload within established guidelines and timeframes; and
• Maintain confidential information according to State, Federal and County guidelines.

Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education/Experience)

KNOWLEDGE

CHILD SUPPORT SPECIALIST I/II

• Interviewing techniques;
• Investigation techniques and procedures;
• Appropriate methods of utilizing available sources of information used in locating persons and obtaining facts; and
• Report writing, and record keeping.

SKILLS/ABILITIES

CHILD SUPPORT SPECIALIST I/II

• Utilize sound judgment and common sense in casework;
• Interpret and apply appropriate Federal and State rules, laws and office policies;
• Formulate clear, thorough and concise written reports;
• Deal with stressful situations; assisting Non-Custodial Parents (NCP's), Custodial Parents (CP's), and other external customers;
• Maintain effective oral and written communication;
• Control sensitive, confidential information;
• Comprehend and compute accurately basic mathematical equations;
• Maintain a rapport with co-workers, NCPs, CPs, attorneys and the general public;
• Sit at a desk, conference table or in meeting rooms of various configurations for extended amounts of time;
• Hear and understand speech at normal room levels and on the telephone;
• Speak in audible tones so others may understand clearly in normal conversations and on the telephone;
• Lift, bend, stoop, walk on uneven terrain and reach overhead;
• Push, pull, squat, twist and turn; and
• Have the mental acuity to perform the essential functions of this position in an accurate, timely fashion, to make good judgments and decisions, and to evaluate the results of decisions and judgments.

We recognize your time is valuable, please only apply if you meet the following required qualifications.

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE FOR CHILD SUPPORT SPECIALIST I

PATTERN I

• Graduation with two (2) or four (4) year degree from an accredited college in Behavioral Science, Criminal Justice, or Business Administration.

PATTERN II

• One (1) year of experience interviewing and independently determining appropriate action for public or private service fields, such as law enforcement, eligibility determination, collections or credit investigations, writing detailed case reports, and preparing or presenting evidence or information in court or administrative hearings.

PATTERN III

• One (1) year of clerical experience in a Child Support Office or private legal office handling child support actions, as an Administrative Clerk II, Account Clerk II, Legal Clerk II, or higher classification.

Child Support Specialist I is a Veterans' Preference Program eligible job classification. For more information, please click here .

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE FOR CHILD SUPPORT SPECIALIST II

PATTERN I

• Graduation with two (2) or four (4) year degree from an accredited college in Behavioral Science, Criminal Justice, or Business Administration.

PATTERN II

• One (1) year of experience interviewing and independently determining appropriate action for public or private service fields, such as law enforcement, eligibility determination, collections or credit investigations, writing detailed case reports, and preparing or presenting evidence or information in court or administrative hearings.

PATTERN III

• One (1) year of clerical experience in a Child Support Office or private legal office handling child support actions, as an Administrative Clerk II, Account Clerk II, Legal Clerk II, or higher classification.

In addition to either Patterns I, II and III must have:

• Six (6) months experience performing the duties comparable to the Child Support Officer I class; OR
• Six (6) months experience performing the duties comparable to the Child Support Officer I class in a "family support" setting.

Proof of Education must be scanned and attached to the online application by the final filing date. Applicants who are not able to submit proof of their education by the final filing date must call 209-558-1681 by the final filing date to make other arrangements. If an applicant does not submit proof of their education, or call to make other arrangements, by the final filing date, they will not be eligible to continue in the recruitment process.

Application and Selection Procedures

APPLICATION PROCEDURES/FINAL FILING DATE
Applications cannot be submitted later than 5:00 p.m. on the final filing date. Make your online application as complete as possible so a full and realistic appraisal may be made of your qualifications.

Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of a completed application.

Attaching your resume and cover letter are an optional feature for those who wish to do so in addition to completing the required application. Information on your resume and cover letter will not substitute for the education, work experience and required fields on the County application. The online County application is the primary tool used to evaluate your job qualifications.

EXAMINATION PROCESS
Most County recruitments consists of the steps detailed below and are governed by Merit Principles. The examination process ensures that all applicants are given the same opportunity to gain employment within Stanislaus County.

• Application Review and Screening. Applications are carefully screened based on information provided. Those who submit incomplete applications that lack relevant qualifications or do not submit all required documents will not be invited to move on.
• Written Examination. Applicants will be invited to participate in a written exam that tests knowledge for the position.
• Oral Examination. Applicants are invited to a panel interview in which they will be evaluated by County subject matter experts.
• Eligible Lists. Candidates who pass the examination will be placed on an eligible list for that classification. Eligible lists are effective for six months but may be extended up to eighteen months.

TENTATIVE RECRUITMENT SCHEDULE
Application Deadline: 09/08/2025
Written Examination: Week of 9/22/2025

Note: The eligible list generated from this recruitment may be used to fill future extra-help, part-time and full-time vacancies throughout Stanislaus County.

GENERAL INFORMATION
Final appointment will be conditional upon successfully passing a County paid pre-employment drug screening (if applicable for position) and a job-related background investigation.

Some positions may require possession or the ability to obtain, and maintenance of a valid California Driver's license or the ability to utilize an alternative method of transportation when needed to carry out job related essential functions.

Stanislaus County supports the good health of its workforce. More information is available at http://myclubwellness.org

Cell phones are typically incompatible with the online application format or browser. We recommend using a desktop or laptop computer. If you are still having technical difficulties, please call NEOGOV at 1-855-524-5627.

Benefits associated with this position can be found at Benefits Summary.

Closing Date/Time: 9/8/2025 5:00 PM Pacific

Salary:

$47,320.00 - $67,329.60 Annually