Child Support Agent

Joining the team at Gaston County Government means being part of a community that is dedicated to improving the lives of its citizens. We are a dynamic organization that values innovation, collaboration, and commitment to service. As an employee of Gaston County, you will have the opportunity to make a difference in your community every day. Whether you are working in public safety, social services, or administration, your contributions will help improve the lives of our residents and build a better future for our county.

About the role

Gaston Social Services protects, cares for, and empowers children and adults who are temporarily or permanently unable to care for themselves through the administration of federal, state, and county programs focused on improving the well-being of our citizens. The goal of the Gaston County Human Services Center and Division of Social Services is to foster an agency that is professionally responsive to our citizens' needs through daily caring outreach and simultaneously serve as an advocate for those in need. We strive to be community-minded and community-spirited, abiding by federal, state, and county operating instructions in providing services and assisting welfare recipients in attaining self-sufficiency.

Responsibilities

• Interview applicants, explain program requirements and procedures.
• Use various methods to obtain and verify data and documents to locate non-custodial parents.
• Counsel with clients and non-custodial parents, explaining the laws and procedures regarding paternity and their responsibility for the dependent child(ren), and the various remedies available through voluntary agreements and court actions to establish child support orders.
• Gather information and evidence relative to case management, establish paternity, and negotiate prospective payment plans and obligations with custodial and non-custodial parents.
• Meet with magistrates, judges, attorneys, and law enforcement personnel to establish paternity and court-ordered support obligations.
• Prepare case documents for court hearings and provide assistance to the Child Support Attorney, testifying in court as needed.
• Prepare and write court orders and other legal documents to be reviewed by the Child Support Attorney.
• Perform DNA testing when necessary.
• Solve problems, address concerns, and answer inquiries from custodial and non-custodial parents through appointments, walk-ins, emails, and telephone calls.
• Write narrative reports regarding case activity, documenting those events and actions taken in the Child Support computer system (ACTS) to establish or enforce court-ordered support obligations.
• Process Income Withholding documents.
• Meet State and Local goals in the five incentive areas: Paternity Established, Cases Under Order, Current Support Collected, Payment toward Arrears, and Total Collections, based on assigned area of specialty: Establishment, Enforcement, Interstate, Modifications, or Foster Care.
• Must be available to work mandatory emergency shelters and other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Graduation with a high school diploma or GED equivalency with two (2) years of experience in eligibility, investigative, judicial, or paralegal work.
• An Associate Degree in human resources or related field may substitute for 1 year of experience.
• A Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university may substitute for required experience.
• Must have a valid driver's license.

The applicant selected must undergo a criminal background check and pass a drug screening test prior to employment. In compliance with G.S.153A-94.2 (b), if the position requires working with children, the County must require the applicant to be subject to a criminal history record check conducted by the SBI.

Benefits

Full-Time employees are eligible for the total compensation package which includes:

• Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance
• Life Insurance
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Retirement Savings Plans
• Pension
• 401K (with 5% county contribution annually)
• Flexible Work Schedules
• Professional Development Opportunities
• Discounted YMCA Membership

Part-Time employees are eligible for certain benefits as a part of employment with Gaston County such as:

• Pro-Rated Sick and Annual Leave
• Professional Development Opportunities
• Local Government Retirement Plan
• Employee Assistance Program

Half-Time employees are not eligible for benefits.

Pay

The anticipated hiring range for this position is $20.43 - $24.26 per hour.