State of Maryland

A Family Investment Specialist II is the full performance level of work providing direct services to individual customers or families by determining customer eligibility for multiple Family Investment Administration programs in a local Department of Social Services.  Employees in this classification interview customers to explain program requirements and options, collect and complete required documentation, refer customers to other program services or agencies as appropriate and monitor customer progress and use of assistance. Employees in this classification do not supervise other positions.

Employees in this classification receive general supervision from a Family Investment Specialist Supervisor or other higher-level administrator.  Employees may be required to work evenings and weekends and may visit customers in their homes or at facilities such as nursing homes, group homes and hospitals.

Positions in this classification are evaluated by using the classification job evaluation methodology.  The use of this method involves comparing the assigned duties and responsibilities of a position to the job criteria found in the Nature of Work and Examples of Work sections of the classification specification.

The Family Investment Specialist I and the Family Investment Specialist II are differentiated on the basis of the degree of supervisory control exercised by the supervisor over these employees.  The Family Investment Specialist I performs duties under close supervision. The Family Investment Specialist II performs the full range of duties and responsibilities under general supervision.  The Family Investment Specialist II differs from the Family Investment Specialist III in that the Family Investment Specialist III provides specialized services to customers and handles cases of a more complex nature or assigns, reviews and approves the work and trains lower-level Family Investment Specialists.

Interviews applicants for Public Assistance, Medical Assistance and/or Food Stamps in the Family Investment Administration (FIA) of the Maryland Department of Human Services in order to determine eligibility and need for FIA programs;

Explains program requirements and procedures to individuals or in a group setting;

Elicits information as to family composition, employment, health status, financial obligations, parental status and living arrangements;

Explains program requirements and procedures to individuals or in a group setting;

Elicits information as to family composition, employment, health status, financial obligations, parental status and living arrangements;

Calculates incomes and resources to establish benefit level;

Determines program eligibility in accordance with federal, State and local laws, policies, rules and regulations;

Checks public records, such as birth records and real estate transactions;

Contacts individuals, employers, landlords, attorneys, financial institutions, medical offices, and government and community agencies to obtain, verify or clarify information required for eligibility determinations, such as income, resources, residency and household composition;

Establishes and maintains case records using computerized databases;

Contacts customers regarding discrepancies and refers questionable cases to the fraud unit for further follow-up;

Monitors case progress and applies appropriate sanctions when necessary;

Provides information on and makes referrals to service agencies, organizations and vendors for appropriate services and information to meet customer health, housing, food, employment, child care and transportation needs;

Serves as an advocate on behalf of customers;

Provides basic counseling and problem solving support;

May make visits to customers’ homes to gather information;

May prepare appeal packages or testify in administrative/appeals hearings;

Performs other related duties.

Knowledge of the impact of poverty and related sociological and health problems;

Knowledge of Family Investment program areas and services;

Skill in the use of computer applications;

Skill in the use of interviewing and communication techniques;

Skill in preparing clear, accurate and detailed reports;

Ability to understand and explain complex federal, State and local policy, requirements, guidelines, procedures and regulations;

Ability to establish and maintain professional working relationships with customers, staff members, other agencies and institutions and the general public;

Ability to effectively organize and manage work assignments and meet deadlines;

Ability to maintain confidentiality regarding case information.

Education:   Graduation from an accredited high school or possession of a high school equivalency certificate.

Experience: One year of experience determining eligibility for governmental assistance programs.

Note: These requirements are established by the Family Investment Administration by authority provided in Human Services Article Title 5, Subtitle 2, Section 204, (b)(1) of the Annotated Code of Maryland. The Office of Personnel Services and Benefits of the Department of Budget and Management and the Examination Services Unit of the Maryland Department of Human Services do not have the authority to accept substitutions or equivalents.

Class specifications are broad descriptions covering groups of positions used by various State departments and agencies. Position descriptions maintained by the using department or agency specifically address the essential job functions of each position.

This is a Skilled Service classification in the State Personnel Management System.  All positions in this classification are Skilled Service positions.  Some positions in Skilled Service classifications may be designated Special Appointment in accordance with the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 6-405, Annotated Code of Maryland.

This classification is assigned to Bargaining Unit F, Social and Human Services Professionals classes.  As provided by State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 3-102, special appointment, temporary, contractual, supervisory, managerial and confidential employees are excluded from collective bargaining.  Additionally, certain executive branch agencies are exempt from collective bargaining and all positions in those agencies are excluded from collective bargaining.

Employees in this classification are eligible to receive overtime compensation.  An employee who works more than the normal workweek is entitled to be compensated for that overtime as provided by State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 8-305.

This classification is one level in a Non-Competitive Promotion (NCP) series.  NCP promotions are promotions by which employees may advance in grade and class level from trainee to full performance levels in a classification series.  In order to be non-competitively promoted to the next level in a NCP series an employee must: 1) perform the main purpose of the class as defined in the Nature of Work section of the class specification; 2) receive the type of supervision defined in the class specification, and 3) meet the minimum qualifications of the classification.