HUMAN SERVICE SPECIALIST III (Title IV-E Specialist)

This recruitment is for one full-time permanent vacancy for the Title IV-E Determination Unit.The position will primarily be located in Baltimore County Department of Social Services.

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DHR - Social Services Administration

6401 York Road

Baltimore MD 21212

This position performs Foster Care case reviews for Title IV-E Federal Funding within the Department of Human Resources, Social Services Administration.The incumbent in this position functions as a Title IV-E Specialist to ensure compliance with Federal laws, rules and regulations for the delivery of services. This position reviews out-of-home Foster Care placements for children who are eligible to receive Title IV-E funding and completes retroactive and prospective Federal claim adjustments and works independently to determine eligibility based on State, Federal regulations and policies to ensure that maximum allowable Federal fund reimbursements are received for the delivery of child welfare services including the appropriate funding adjustments to the State's accounting records.

Completes Initial Eligibility Determinations for children entering out-of-home care.

Utilizes several databases to include: Maryland Children's Electronic Social Services Information Exchange (MD CHESSIE), Maryland Automated Benefit System (MABS), State Verification Exchange System (SVES), and Client Automated Resources and Eligibility System (CARES) to obtain and verify information necessary to meet Federal eligibility requirements.

Assesses information and supporting documentation to determine if Federal eligibility requirements are met; completes IV-E Redeterminations of cases remaining in care for 12 months or longer to ensure that a positive eligibility determination is made for children who are eligible to receive Federal funding under the Title IV-E program.

Completes IV-E Redetermination for voluntary placement cases to ensure unique Federal requirements for continued eligibility; completes Applicable Child Assessments, Adoption Subsidy Eligibility Determinations and Guardianship Assistance Eligibility Determinations.

Updates accurate data into the MD CHESSIE database; maintains supporting documentation for determinations that meet Federal standards.

Collects, compiles, and researches necessary data such as: computer clearances, CIS-General Demographics, MABS-Parental earned income/wages, child support information, SVES-SSI/SSA unearned income information for the entire household, Court Orders, and other pertinent legal documents that assist in making accurate eligibility determinations of all completed cases.

Applies knowledge of Federal and State policies and procedures in order to accurately determine eligibility for other Federal funding, i.e., (Title II (SSA) benefits, Title XVI (SSI) benefits, Title XX (Medical Assistance), and Adoption Subsidy funds); analyzes documentation for representative payee changes, i.e. (ensures that the Agency is made the payee for the benefits of children who have entered out-of-home care).

Serves as a liaison between Baltimore City Department of Social Services and the Social Security Administration to ensure that children receive appropriate funding and consults with caseworkers, supervisors, administrators, Title IV-E liaison, and other agency representatives to ensure required documentations are retrieved and established procedures are adhered to.

IMPORTANT, PLEASE READ: You must possess the minimum qualifications listed below to be approved for this recruitment.

Please describe in detail any job duties relating to the minimum qualifications stated and include any computer software experience (ex. JobAps, WorkDay, Word, Excel, Access, etc.) used in each of the positions you held. 

Education: A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.

Experience: Two years of experience in the administration of a human services program or experience conducting studies and analyses of programs, procedures, practices and organizations.

Notes: 1. Additional professional or technical experience in the administration of a human services program or experience conducting studies and analyses of programs, procedures, practices and organizations may be substituted on a year-for-year basis for the required education.

2. Education at the graduate level at an accredited college or university in a human services related field may be substituted at the rate of 30 semester hours per year for the required experience.

3. Candidates may substitute U.S. Armed Forces military service experience as a commissioned officer in Administrative Officer classifications or Administrative Officer specialty codes in the General, Administrative, Clerical, and Officer Services field of work on a year-for-year basis for the required experience and education.

The ideal candidate will possess the following:

1. One year of experience determining client eligibility for Title IV-E Federal Program.

2. Experience in Federal compliance programs such as Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF).

3. Experience with Personal Computer, Network Systems, Printers, Software Applications such as: Microsoft Windows, Word, Excel, Access, Power-Point, Group Wise e-mail, Internet, Client Information System (CIS) Foster Care and Adoption Tracking System (FACTS), Maryland Children's Electronic Social Services Information Exchange (MD CHESSIE), Client Automated Resources and Eligibility System (CARES), State Verification Exchange System (SVES), and Maryland Automated Benefit System (MABS).

4. Strong written and oral communication skills.

5. Ability to prioritize and multi-task effectively.

6. Flexibility in a busy environment.

7. Strong time management, priority setting and problem-solving skills.

 

Please make sure that you provide sufficient information on your application to show that you meet the qualifications for this recruitment; all information must be received by the closing date.

All candidates meeting minimum qualifications will be ranked as Best-Qualified and placed on the employment (eligible) list for the remainder of the year. This list will be used by hiring agencies in our Local Departments of Social Services to select candidates for employment as positions become available.

PLEASE NOTE: Placement on the eligible list as a Best-Qualified candidate means you will be considered for vacancies in locations where you indicated you are willing to work; it is not a guarantee that you will be contacted for each vacancy.

The assessment may consist of a rating of your education, training, and experience related to the requirements of the position.  It is important that you provide complete and accurate information on your application.  Please report all experience and education that is related to this position. 

For education obtained outside the U.S., a copy of the equivalent American education as determined by a foreign credential evaluation service must accompany the application. 

All information concerning your qualifications must be submitted by the closing date.  We will not consider information submitted after this date.

The incumbent in this position is a member of a covered bargaining unit and will be required to pay a bi-weekly service fee to the exclusive representative of the bargaining unit.

STATE OF MARYLAND BENEFITS

 

Online applications are STRONGLY preferred. 

If the online application process is not available, please send your paper application and supplemental questionnaire (if applicable) to:

DHR Examination Services Unit

Attention: Moses Devaprakasam 

311 W. Saratoga Street, First Floor  

Baltimore, Maryland 21201

Inquiries regarding applications and the submittal of supplemental information, such as foreign school evaluations, can be directed via the following: email: dhr.esu@maryland.gov; phone: 410-767-7414. TTY Users via Maryland Relay, 1-800-925-4434. 

Do not submit unsolicited documentation. Resumes, cover letters, copies of diplomas, and transcripts are not required for the examination process. 

We thank our Veterans for their service to our country, and encourage them to apply. Bilingual applicants are encouraged to apply.

As an equal opportunity employer, Maryland is committed to recruiting, retaining and promoting employees who are reflective of the State’s diversity.