Child Support Agent

General Definition of Work:

Position is responsible for the establishment and enforcement of child support orders and has control and responsibility for the financial management and accounting of these support orders. Position performs duties and responsibilities with considerable independent judgment under the regular supervision of the Child Support Supervisor.

Position requires thorough knowledge of the Child Support Enforcement Program and applicable legal procedures; the ability to interview clients, absent parents, and related sources; investigate cases; organize, analyze, and summarize case information; basic math skills; and the ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with clients, absent parents, location resources, offices of the Clerk of Court, Magistrates, District Attorney, Sheriff, other court officials, and private attorneys.

Other duties may be assigned to the worker when deemed necessary by the Supervisor.

• Provide child support services to TANF and non-TANF clients. Collect and assess information to ensure ACTS opens cases at the appropriate service level. Advise client on the importance of legally establishing paternity for children born out of wedlock. Interview and advise the non‑custodial parent regarding his/her responsibility for dependent children.
• Verify the location of the non‑custodial parent, verifying all information for correctness then analyzing the information and determining which steps to follow going forward. Explain to the absent parent the laws and procedures regarding paternity and child support, medical insurance for dependent children and the various remedies available through voluntary agreements and court actions. Assess the case and make appropriate referrals to State and Federal locate resources.
• Review the case to see if paternity is at issue in the case. If determined, appropriate means should be used to establish paternity. When non‑custodial parent voluntarily admits paternity, this role must see that the necessary legal documents are prepared and completed through ACTS, gaining all required signatures to file properly with the court. If non‑custodial parent fails to keep appointment of fails to agree to any terms of the voluntary process, this role must proceed with the appropriate litigation.
• Interview client and non‑custodial parent to determine income, expenses, medical insurance availability and responsibility for other children, verifying all information prior to completing the North Carolina child Support Guidelines Worksheet.
• This role will utilize the North Carolina Child Support Guidelines to determine the support amount, preparing legal documents, providing in‑depth case investigation including documentation of past paid public assistance, employment verification, calculation of support guideline worksheet, determination of prior maintenance and availability of medical insurance. If the non‑custodial parent agrees to the support amount, the agent will proceed with the completion of the Voluntary Support Agreement.
  
  If the non‑custodial parent fails to keep appointment or agree to any terms of the voluntary process for child support, then the agency must proceed with court action.
• This role will assist the attorney with case preparation and testify in any court hearing. Once support is established, the agency must implement wage withholding and medical coverage through the non‑custodial parent’s employer.
• This role is responsible for monitoring the terms of the order through reviewing the information in ACTS, determining status, and identifying delinquency statuses using the appropriate guidelines. After identifying delinquency, determining the appropriate enforcement tool, and proceeding with the appropriate action.
• This role must communicate routinely with clients, non‑custodial parents, and employers about the child support process. Must have thorough knowledge of all aspects of services and be able to explain to clientele. The agent must maintain a professional relationship with local resources, Sheriff’s department, etc.
• The agent must review cases as needed to determine any potential need for…