Portage County Health and Human Services is looking to hire a Child Support Specialist!

What are the main job responsibilities?

• Interviews clients in order to establish and/or enforce child support and medical coverage for children; either when parties are married and separate or a Voluntary Paternity Acknowledgement has been filed. Establish child support, medical coverage and determine any costs to be ordered, including birth expenses when appropriate. Set monthly repay amount on all costs.
• Request seek-work requirement and Children First participating language in all child support orders.
• Monitor and enforce collection of current child support, any overdue child support and birth expenses and costs due the State of Wisconsin and/or other parties.  Monitor purge orders in contempt action prior to expiration date.  Request further court action when warranted.  Pursue medical support when not included in current order.  Utilize Administrative Enforcement tools available when deemed appropriate in Title IV-D of the Social Security Act cases.
• Refer cases to financial clerk to perform reconciliation of child support due in percent expressed orders.  Identify earnings to be used in calculation for reconciliation as well as period of time for reconciliation.  Review and approve prepared reconciliation determination.  Prepare Affidavit to accompany other appropriate legal documents for filing action with the court.
• Locates absent parents by performing an investigation utilizing automated, internet, and manual resources available to assist in establishing and enforcing child support, and medical support orders.  Refers request for Quick Locate through automated system to other states.
• Review all child support orders every thirty-three months pursuant to the 1988 Family Support Act, to determine compliance of order based on Wisconsin standard guideline.  Negotiate agreements with parties and pursue appropriate legal documents for approval and filing as required.
• Arrange schedule with child support legal counsel at least one to two days in advance of upcoming court date for cases remaining on calendar.    Verify all necessary documentation for court is in file, including any account record needed.  Testify at court hearing when requested.
• Refer delinquent non-custodial parent cases to District Attorney Office for criminal nonsupport compliant and provide all required supporting docs.
• ​​​​​Meet with custodial parent to prepare required interstate documents and signing of documents as required.  Negotiate settlements with other states acting in the best interest of the State of Wisconsin.
• Request financial clerk to change indicator in “KIDS” computer system as required regarding non-custodial parent tax refund intercept information.
• Provide technical support to Economic Support Case Workers as requested.
• Review Bulletin Board in KIDS system daily and weekly to remain informed of changes in automated system. 
• Document conversations and interview information and other action taken not automatically recorded in KIDS system.  Work assigned KIDS Worklists daily and weekly, meeting all required timelines.  Refer appropriate worklists to designated staff. 
• Provide direction and technical support to the assigned Specialist Assistant for preparation and processing of legal documents and correspondence.

What is the minimum education and experience needed?
 

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Associate degree or training as a paralegal or legal secretary preferred
• Two years increasingly responsible office experience required, preferably in a child support, law or court-related area.

To receive a copy of the job description, please email: HR@co.portage.wi.us

Portage County offers a ROBUST BENEFIT PACKAGE for this position. Benefits include;

• State of Wisconsin Retirement Plan

• Health insurance- your choice of two health plans- (Health Savings Account associated with the High Deductible Health Plan with a County contribution and a Traditional PPO plan)

• Vacation

• Paid holidays

• Sick leave

• Flexible spending account

• Life insurance- premium paid by the County

• Long term disability insurance- premium paid by the County

• Dental insurance

• 457B Deferred Compensation Plan

Portage County is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer