Sibley County
Full-time position - 40 hours per week
2026 wage range is $28.30 - $38.70 per hour, plus benefits.
Hiring wage: $28.30 depending on qualifications.
Under the general direction of the Financial Assistance Supervisor, the Child Support Officer is responsible for providing paralegal functions related to the establishment and enforcement of child support orders. Duties of the job include interviewing mothers and alleged fathers to establish paternity; administering genetic testing; enforcing child support orders; locating absent parents; initiating legal actions, testifying in court and/or explaining rights and obligations; and negotiating settlements related to child support.
Gathers, compiles and reviews documents and information gathered from various state and federal sources concerning finances, employment, or needed information.
Interviews parents to obtain case information, employment status and to determine their ability to pay child support.
Researches birth records of children to ensure paternity status is known.
Schedules interviews and appointments with mothers and alleged fathers in paternity cases to explain rights and responsibilities to secure acknowledgement of paternity.
Determines paternity through the use of genetic testing, voluntary signing or through the court system to adjudicate the alleged father.
Adjudicates and initiates legal paternity processes by referring cases to the County Attorney’s Office and aiding in the preparation of affidavits.
Identifies, researches, and initiates appropriate legal action to establish a court order for support and/or reimbursement, or to enforce existing court orders.
Prepares pleadings, summonses, complaints, affidavits, notices, motions, proposed orders, stipulation agreements for review and signature of the County Attorney.
Prepares testimony, case documents, calculations and/or court exhibits.
Utilizes the MN E-File system to file documents with the court.
Appears and testifies in hearings providing testimony on behalf of client and/or County in paternity, establishment, modification and/or contempt hearings.
Monitors current cases and provides case management duties and responsibilities.
Updates and maintains case documentation and records.
Utilizes the Electronic Data Exchange (EDE) for transferring case files to and from the agency.
Responds to written and oral inquiries from custodial and non-custodial parents, employers, attorneys, financial unit, social services, other regarding income withholdings, basic medical and child care support issues.
Reviews and verifies addresses, employment and insurance coverage.
Monitors cases for compliance with court orders and administrative enforcement tools. Determines appropriate enforcement remedies and legal actions in the event cases are found to be non-compliant such as license suspension; passport denial; credit bureau reporting; federal/state tax intercepts; and other measures.
Performs case maintenance activities such as initiating income withholding orders, medical insurance requirements to employers, the collection of unreimbursed medical/dental expenses, and cost-of-living adjustments.
Makes referrals to and works with County Attorney to initiate legal actions and enforce existing orders for support.
Monitors cases for billings, payments and overpayments on accounts and compliance with payment agreements.
Contacts obligors to resolve delinquent payments.
Reviews case situations to determine if using the arrears management prevention policy is appropriate to reduce past due obligations owed to the state.
Obtains case referrals from financial unit personnel, social services and applications from custodial, non-custodial parents and social service agencies who do not receive public assistance. Reviews referral materials for essential and required information regarding parents, court orders, employment, insurance and other case information. Determines appropriate actions to take. Monitors any child placement status issues and attends agency placement meetings.
Initiates interstate/intrastate actions to establish and/or enforce existing child support orders from other jurisdictions in order to secure child support payments. Monitors cases for out of state payments. Contacts states via paper transmittals, CSENET, telephone and EDE transactions for updates and verifications.
Maintains properly organized and secure work space, both in the office and when working remotely.
Ensure client and case data remains private, and securely stored when away from the work space.
Keep all case data separate so files or forms do not get mixed with different case information.
Take proper care when mailing or faxing information to ensure forms and notices are addressed to the intended recipient.
Follows proper agency procedure when handling FTI data and stores, shares, or destroys in accordance to IRS Publication 1075.
Employees must consistently report to work as scheduled and maintain regular attendance.
Performs other duties of a comparable level or type, as required.
Keeps abreast of changing trends, policies, best practices and developments in areas of responsibility.
Qualifications High School Diploma or GED. A valid MN Driver’s license. May be required to attend various training sessions, conferences and/or certification classes, after hire, depending upon assigned job responsibilities.
A minimum of three (3) years of related human services experience in child support or enforcement (e.g., establishing or enforcing support orders, locating noncustodial parents, monitoring compliance, collecting payments, or other human services compliance/enforcement activities); OR
A minimum of three (3) years of experience as an Eligibility Worker; OR
An equivalent combination of related work experience and/or post‑secondary education that demonstrates knowledge and skills required for the position.
Skilled in:
Oral and written communications including interviewing techniques.
Performing basic math calculations.
Establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with employees, supervisors, other county personnel, clients, employers, attorneys and court personnel.
Learning, interpreting and applying regulations, laws, rules, statutes and/or policies relevant to child support activities and actions, appropriately.
Time management skills.
Making sound judgments in analyzing facts and evidence and making sound recommendations and taking appropriate actions.
Applying judgment and discretion in dealing with at times angry, hostile or uncooperative individuals.
Documenting, preparing and maintaining child support case files, records, forms, etc.
Utilizing and implementing case management and records management procedures and software/applications to document case information, actions, contacts, orders, and collections.
Organizing, tracking and monitoring case activities and actions in accordance with the applicable policies, procedures, guidelines or orders.
Initiating and preparing legal documents and court actions in accordance with child support statutes, guidelines, procedures and requirements.
Handling and negotiating settlements in accordance with policies, guidelines and statutes.
Essential knowledge and specialized subject knowledge required to perform the essential functions of the job
Basic knowledge and understanding of laws, rules, and guidelines pertaining to child support programs, enforcement and functions.
Knowledge of debt collection processes and laws.
Data privacy laws, statutes, requirements and department policies and procedures.
Basic understanding of court procedures, legal terminology, legal processes, basic rules of evidence, and legal forms related to child support.
Knowledge of community resources and human behavior.
Fundamentals of computer operation and computer applications and programs utilized by the department (e.g. MMIS, DVS, MAXIS, PRISM, etc.) and general business productivity applications/software.
Knowledge of state and federal rules, laws, or requirements pertaining to child support functions.
Physical requirements associated with the position can be best summarized as follows Light Work:
Exerting up to 25 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and/or negligible amount of force constantly to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects in the performance of the job.
Unusual or hazardous working conditions related to performance of duties:
Employee works primarily in an indoor office setting and is exposed to minimal adverse or hazardous physical or environmental conditions. Employees are exposed to some disagreeable, hostile, uncooperative and/or angry clients or members of the public that can make the job less than desirable. Potential hazards and risks can be minimized through departmental procedures, training and general county risk management techniques implemented by the County.
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Under the general direction of the Financial Assistance Supervisor, the Child Support Officer is responsible for providing paralegal functions related to the establishment and enforcement of child support orders. Duties of the job include interviewing mothers and alleged fathers to establish paternity; administering genetic testing; enforcing child support orders; locating absent parents; initiating legal actions, testifying in court and/or explaining rights and obligations; and negotiating settlements related to child support.
Gathers, compiles and reviews documents and information gathered from various state and federal sources concerning finances, employment, or needed information.
Interviews parents to obtain case information, employment status and to determine their ability to pay child support.
Researches birth records of children to ensure paternity status is known.
Schedules interviews and appointments with mothers and alleged fathers in paternity cases to explain rights and responsibilities to secure acknowledgement of paternity.
Determines paternity through the use of genetic testing, voluntary signing or through the court system to adjudicate the alleged father.
Adjudicates and initiates legal paternity processes by referring cases to the County Attorney’s Office and aiding in the preparation of affidavits.
Identifies, researches, and initiates appropriate legal action to establish a court order for support and/or reimbursement, or to enforce existing court orders.
Prepares pleadings, summonses, complaints, affidavits, notices, motions, proposed orders, stipulation agreements for review and signature of the County Attorney.
Prepares testimony, case documents, calculations and/or court exhibits.
Utilizes the MN E-File system to file documents with the court.
Appears and testifies in hearings providing testimony on behalf of client and/or County in paternity, establishment, modification and/or contempt hearings.
Monitors current cases and provides case management duties and responsibilities.
Updates and maintains case documentation and records.
Utilizes the Electronic Data Exchange (EDE) for transferring case files to and from the agency.
Responds to written and oral inquiries from custodial and non-custodial parents, employers, attorneys, financial unit, social services, other regarding income withholdings, basic medical and child care support issues.
Reviews and verifies addresses, employment and insurance coverage.
Monitors cases for compliance with court orders and administrative enforcement tools. Determines appropriate enforcement remedies and legal actions in the event cases are found to be non-compliant such as license suspension; passport denial; credit bureau reporting; federal/state tax intercepts; and other measures.
Performs case maintenance activities such as initiating income withholding orders, medical insurance requirements to employers, the collection of unreimbursed medical/dental expenses, and cost-of-living adjustments.
Makes referrals to and works with County Attorney to initiate legal actions and enforce existing orders for support.
Monitors cases for billings, payments and overpayments on accounts and compliance with payment agreements.
Contacts obligors to resolve delinquent payments.
Reviews case situations to determine if using the arrears management prevention policy is appropriate to reduce past due obligations owed to the state.
Obtains case referrals from financial unit personnel, social services and applications from custodial, non-custodial parents and social service agencies who do not receive public assistance. Reviews referral materials for essential and required information regarding parents, court orders, employment, insurance and other case information. Determines appropriate actions to take. Monitors any child placement status issues and attends agency placement meetings.
Initiates interstate/intrastate actions to establish and/or enforce existing child support orders from other jurisdictions in order to secure child support payments. Monitors cases for out of state payments. Contacts states via paper transmittals, CSENET, telephone and EDE transactions for updates and verifications.
Maintains properly organized and secure work space, both in the office and when working remotely.
Ensure client and case data remains private, and securely stored when away from the work space.
Keep all case data separate so files or forms do not get mixed with different case information.
Take proper care when mailing or faxing information to ensure forms and notices are addressed to the intended recipient.
Follows proper agency procedure when handling FTI data and stores, shares, or destroys in accordance to IRS Publication 1075.
Employees must consistently report to work as scheduled and maintain regular attendance.
Performs other duties of a comparable level or type, as required.
Keeps abreast of changing trends, policies, best practices and developments in areas of responsibility.
Qualifications High School Diploma or GED. A valid MN Driver’s license. May be required to attend various training sessions, conferences and/or certification classes, after hire, depending upon assigned job responsibilities.
A minimum of three (3) years of related human services experience in child support or enforcement (e.g., establishing or enforcing support orders, locating noncustodial parents, monitoring compliance, collecting payments, or other human services compliance/enforcement activities); OR
A minimum of three (3) years of experience as an Eligibility Worker; OR
An equivalent combination of related work experience and/or post‑secondary education that demonstrates knowledge and skills required for the position.
Skilled in:
Oral and written communications including interviewing techniques.
Performing basic math calculations.
Establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with employees, supervisors, other county personnel, clients, employers, attorneys and court personnel.
Learning, interpreting and applying regulations, laws, rules, statutes and/or policies relevant to child support activities and actions, appropriately.
Time management skills.
Making sound judgments in analyzing facts and evidence and making sound recommendations and taking appropriate actions.
Applying judgment and discretion in dealing with at times angry, hostile or uncooperative individuals.
Documenting, preparing and maintaining child support case files, records, forms, etc.
Utilizing and implementing case management and records management procedures and software/applications to document case information, actions, contacts, orders, and collections.
Organizing, tracking and monitoring case activities and actions in accordance with the applicable policies, procedures, guidelines or orders.
Initiating and preparing legal documents and court actions in accordance with child support statutes, guidelines, procedures and requirements.
Handling and negotiating settlements in accordance with policies, guidelines and statutes.
Essential knowledge and specialized subject knowledge required to perform the essential functions of the job
Basic knowledge and understanding of laws, rules, and guidelines pertaining to child support programs, enforcement and functions.
Knowledge of debt collection processes and laws.
Data privacy laws, statutes, requirements and department policies and procedures.
Basic understanding of court procedures, legal terminology, legal processes, basic rules of evidence, and legal forms related to child support.
Knowledge of community resources and human behavior.
Fundamentals of computer operation and computer applications and programs utilized by the department (e.g. MMIS, DVS, MAXIS, PRISM, etc.) and general business productivity applications/software.
Knowledge of state and federal rules, laws, or requirements pertaining to child support functions.
Physical requirements associated with the position can be best summarized as follows Light Work:
Exerting up to 25 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and/or negligible amount of force constantly to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects in the performance of the job.
Unusual or hazardous working conditions related to performance of duties:
Employee works primarily in an indoor office setting and is exposed to minimal adverse or hazardous physical or environmental conditions. Employees are exposed to some disagreeable, hostile, uncooperative and/or angry clients or members of the public that can make the job less than desirable. Potential hazards and risks can be minimized through departmental procedures, training and general county risk management techniques implemented by the County.
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