Student Advocacy Specialist

In the Official Code of Georgia 20-2-779.1, the State of Georgia prioritized the creation of Qualified Student Advocacy Specialists.  

Position Title: Student Advocacy Specialist
Location: Central Office
Reports To: Director of Student Services
Job Code:
Salary Schedule: State Salary Schedule
Work Days: 190
Pay Frequency: Monthly
FLSA: Exempt

The duties and responsibilities of the position shall include, but are not limited to: 
          Coordinating the efforts to identify and facilitate appropriate interventions for students with or at risk for mental health concerns 
          Coordinating, documenting, evaluating and reporting the outcomes of Tier 1 and Tier 2 behavioral health training programs and materials of the local school system 
          Attending information and training meetings related to school safety and student behavioral health  

The specifications related to each of these three main responsibilities are detailed below. 

1. Coordination of Behavioral and Mental Health Interventions

     a. Coordinate a comprehensive approach to early behavioral health identification and school safety through: 
          - Supporting the development and implementation of systems, in collaboration with school-based teams, to proactively identify students who are experiencing or are at risk for mental                          and behavioral health concerns.
          - Analyzing attendance patterns, discipline data, academic performance, teacher referrals, and screening tools to detect early warning signs before issues escalate.  
          - Providing support and expertise to ensure a comprehensive and supportive approach to the district's behavioral threat assessment process. 

     b. Facilitate a system to ensure timely referrals and access to a continuum of supports, including: 
          - School-based interventions such as counseling, mentoring, and small group supports.
          - Telehealth services that can provide timely, virtual access to licensed professionals.
          - Local behavioral health providers, including Community Service Boards (CSBs), local behavioral health agencies, and private practitioners for specialized or intensive services.
          - Community-based programs that address underlying barriers such as housing, food insecurity, or family stress. 
          - Local Interagency Planning Team (LIPT) 

     c. Ensure coordinated case management: 
          - Work closely with school staff, including but not limited to school counselors, social workers, nurses, psychologists, safety personnel and administrators to create systems for                                     development and implementation of coordinated support plans.  
     d. Ensure that there is a system in place to track each referral to ensure follow-up, reduce duplication of services, and confirm that students receive the appropriate level of care.  
     e. Coordinate a process for transition/support plans for students returning to school from a more restrictive setting (e.g. alternative placement, psychiatric residential treatment facility, acute                   hospital care, regional youth detention center, etc.). 
     f. Monitor outcomes and effectiveness:  
         - Collect data on referrals, delivered services, and student progress. Use this data to evaluate the effectiveness of interventions and report findings to district leadership and state                                 partners as required. Work with providers to adjust supports as needed to ensure that interventions are having the desired impact on student well-being, attendance, and                                           academic engagement. 
     g. Develop/strengthen partnerships with community providers: 
          - Build and maintain strong relationships with external agencies to ensure smooth service coordination and reduce barriers to care. Engage families as partners in the intervention                               process, maintain regular communication and offer guidance on available resources. 
     h. Build and maintain a reference resource with local partners, points of contact, contact information, etc. Assure that the resource is current and is accessible to all school partners. 

2. Tiered Behavioral Health Training and Support 

     a. Tier 1 (Universal Supports): 
          - Coordinate, document, and evaluate prevention and awareness initiatives that promote mental health and a positive school climate. 
          - Support staff training programs as required by O.C.G.A. 20-2-779.1, including youth mental health awareness, trauma-informed practices, and suicide prevention.
     b. Tier 2 (Targeted Supports): 
          - Work with schools to ensure availability of and access to early interventions and small-group support for students with emerging behavioral or attendance concerns. 
          - Partner with behavioral health providers and community agencies to build access to targeted services. c. Tier 3 (Intensive Supports): 
          - Facilitate referrals to wraparound services and individualized plans for students with chronic or severe behavioral health needs.  
          - Facilitate access to therapy or teletherapy and monitor access and effectiveness. 
          - Ensure coordination with behavioral health providers, social services, crisis response teams, CMOs' and commercial insurers' care coordinators. 
 

3. Collaboration, Documentation, and Compliance 

• a. Document and evaluate the outcomes of behavioral health programs and interventions, reporting progress to district leadership and state agencies as required.
• b. Attend mandatory training sessions and workshops offered by the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency (GEMA/HS) and the Department of Behavioral Health, Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD), and the Department of Education (DOE).  
• c. Collaborate with school-level safety and threat assessment teams to integrate behavioral health supports into school safety plans.
   
  

Qualifications Mandatory: 
 

• Bachelor's degree in counseling, social work, psychology, a related behavioral health field, or comparable experience in these fields of expertise with PSC certification.  
   
  
• Exceptional communication skills, including the ability to work effectively with students, families, educators, community organizations, insurance care coordinators, behavioral health providers, and state agencies.  
   
  
• Experience with or awareness of Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS). 
   
  

Preferred:
 

Course work in data analysis, statistics, or a related area and/or experience in data-driven decision-making.
 

Physical Activity: While performing the duties of this job, the employer is frequently required to sit for extended periods. The employee is also required to talk, hear, stand, and walk.  The employee may be required to use hands to handle, feel, and/or reach. The employee is occasionally required to stoop, kneel, or crouch. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds