Job Title: School Social Worker - Transition

Kent ISD Center Based Programs – Empower U – Central, North, South -

182 day position

2024-25 School Year

The School Social Worker helps students resolve such personal, emotional, and social problems that interfere with their adjustment to school and their capacity to gain the fullest benefits from their educational programs. Promotes and enhances the overall academic mission by providing services that strengthen home, school, and community partnerships and address barriers to learning and achievement. The school social worker carries an active, direct service caseload of students with IEPs and serves on the assessment team for evaluations that address the affective/behavioral/social domains.

Job Qualifications:

• Must hold a valid Master’s degree with a School Social Work Endorsement and completed all experience requirements for the MSW.
• Full approval by the Michigan Department of Education as a Licensed School Social Worker or have received a recommendation for temporary approval from a Michigan school of social work training program by obtaining an SSW-310 form.
• Experience working in Center Programs, preferred.
• Demonstrated knowledge/competence in four additional areas:
  • Child psychopathology
  • Diagnosis, assessment, and testing
  • Educational disabilities and their impact on children and families
  • The practice of social work in educational settings
• Exceptional knowledge of and experience with the use of behavior and achievement data for the design and implementation of behavior intervention plans for adolescent students.
• Exceptional knowledge of effective, research-based instructional and social-emotional strategies.
• Ability to facilitate and collaborate effectively with multidisciplinary teams.
• Outstanding skills, both written and verbal, in communicating with students, parents, teachers, and administrators.
• Expert knowledge of student electronic information/data systems.
• Knowledge of Michigan curriculum and content standards.
• Ability to follow directives and work effectively with administrators.
• Must pass criminal background check as required by School Safety Legislation.
• Demonstrates a strong commitment to equity, social justice, and inclusion in all practices and position responsibilities. Demonstrates the ability to examine the impact of education inequities in student achievement outcomes as it aligns with race, ethnicity, and socio-economic status.

Responsibilities:

• Provide individual and group counseling to students and their families in need of assistance utilizing an ecological framework addressing variations in development and learning, as well as reciprocal influences of home, school, and community.
• Provide consultation, collaboration, and advisement services to students, their family members, and school staff regarding students' social, emotional, and behavioral status impacting learning, development, mental health, and school success. Encourage developmentally appropriate student self-determination and self-advocacy.
• Implement school social work services within a multi-tiered intervention model for programs and services.
• Provide instruction, modeling, and coaching to students, parents, and school staff in the implementation of effective behavior intervention strategies and techniques. Provide ongoing guidance and training services to parents and school staff on topics pertinent to the development, mental health, and learning needs of students.
• Provide liaison, coordination, and case management services with schools, families, community agencies, and other resources to influence positive school outcomes for students.

• Develop functional behavior assessments and behavior intervention plans to facilitate successful learning and socialization opportunities. Provide services and disseminate information to encourage school-wide positive behavior supports.
• Identify and coordinate accommodations and modifications of school environment for a student to obtain access to general education curriculum and instruction.
• Provide support to facilitate successful transitions in areas that affect students' learning opportunities.
• Provide crisis prevention, planning, and intervention services, including assessments of the impact of trauma on development, learning, and school performance.
• Provide comprehensive written reports of assessments and evaluations of students that specifically address the reasons for referral. Utilize multiple methods of collecting data, and provide appropriate measurable goals for intervention and anticipated outcomes from service.
• Provide and interpret assessments and evaluations to determine eligibility for special education, and identify needs for programs and services.
• Utilize home and community settings, as appropriate, to collect assessment information,
• Perform all other duties as appropriate and determined by Principal/Administrator.

The above is intended to describe the general content of and requirements for the performance of this position. It is not to be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities or requirements.

Salary: Subject to the terms of the KIEA Master Agreement

Benefits: Robust full benefit package includes medical, dental, and vision insurance, generous sick time; State of Michigan School Employment retirement program; student loan forgiveness may be available through the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program for eligible Federal student loans.