Truancy Outreach Specialist (High School)

Job Description:

The Truancy Outreach Specialist monitors school attendance and works with school administrators, students, parents, and the school support teams with the focus on keeping students in school and improving student and school attendance rates.

This 12-month, 240 day Licensed position reports to the School Principal at Alexandria City High School.

Qualifications:

• Education: A Master’s Degree in the area of Social Work or an area related to truancy is required. 

• Certificates & Licenses: A Valid Virginia Department of Education Pupil Personnel Services License, with an endorsement in School Social Worker required, A Virginia State Certification in School Social Work preferred.

• Experience: A minimum of three years’ work experience preferred. Demonstrated sensitivity to the needs of individuals from diverse ethnic backgrounds. Bilingual in English/Spanish.

Essential Functions:

• Develops schoolwide approach to promoting importance of regular student attendance through implementation of PBIS strategies.
• Analyzes and provides data to teachers, SST, and students regarding attendance.
• Develops Attendance Panel Team, including methods of identification of truancy, strategies to implement, and communication feedback loop to teachers.
• Promotes and reinforces consistent attendance with students, families, teachers, and administrators.
• Collaborates with Office of Student Services to coordinate work to align with school division.
• Files court Child in Need of Services (CHINS) petitions as needed.
• Stays abreast of laws and guidelines regarding attendance, truancy and chronic absenteeism.
• Collects data to analyze and develop recommendations for program improvement.
• Coordinates with school, the court and other agencies to collect and disseminate information pertaining to truancy.
• Trains school social workers, teachers and other school staff in truancy and attendance related matters (e.g., attendance laws, best practices and interventions).
• Conducts home visits with parents and students to follow up on truant students and gain parental support in students’ educational, behavioral and social development.
• Provides intervention for the purpose of redirecting youth towards consistent school attendance.
• Supports building social workers with intervention strategies.
• Serves as a liaison between school and community agencies with respect to reporting child abuse/neglect.
• Provides individual and group counseling for students to improve academic achievement.
• Provides appropriate interventions to ensure proper school attendance and prevent school “drop-out” in conjunction with established school and community program.
• Monitors students attendance and develops programs to support consist attendance.
• Provides pyscho-educational trainings and workshops for staff, students, and parents (e.g. truancy intervention workshops, parenting skills, community resources, district programs, social skills development, etc.).
• Carries out other duties as assigned by the school principal.
• Works with other agencies to coordinate services for students and families.
• Serves on different committees and task force within the school system and community.
• Conducts or participates in research as needed.
• Maintains records for professional accountability as well as for local/state requirements.
• Provides clinically appropriate counseling and/or therapeutic services to individual students, groups of students, and families when students show high levels of “at risk” symptoms for school failure, including discipline and adjustment problems.
• Provides crisis intervention counseling.
• Collaborates with school administrators, school social workers and teachers for purpose educating students, parents and the community about laws and the benefits related to consist school attendance.
• Meets with students, school social workers, parents, and school administrators for the purpose of determining reasons for truancy and developing plans for improving student attendance.
• Reviews all referrals to the Attendance Panel Team.
• Facilitates timely and appropriate interventions and follow-up services to students, their parents and teachers.
• Provides comprehensive school social work services to parents, students and school staff, addressing barriers that limit a student from receiving full benefit from their educational experience. 

Compensation: 

• Step Placement and Salary for this position is determined by The ACPS Teachers and Other Licensed Staff Salary Scale 

• FLSA Status: Exempt position - This position is classified as exempt, meaning it is not eligible for overtime pay under the Fair Labor Standards Act.  

Clearances: 

• Criminal Justice Fingerprint/Background Clearance.
• Tuberculosis Skin Test. 
• Public Health Compliance - Must follow safety and health protocols. 

WP