Program Associate II

Job Description

Job Title

Position Title: Program Associate II

Location: Office Homeless and Foster Care Services

Salary: $47,748 - $80,111

Reports to: Assistant Director, Office of Homeless and Foster Care

Bargaining Unit: OSAS

Benefits Eligible: Yes

Telecommuting eligibility: Not eligible for telecommuting

Position Summary

In accordance with the Agreement between the Organization of School Administrators and supervisors and the Detroit Public School Community District the following vacancy is announced:

This position supports Detroit Public Schools Community District (DPSCD) families by ensuring homeless children and youth are fully integrated into the school setting and receive the educational support they are entitled to under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Act. Responsibilities include coordinating school enrollment, transportation, and access to essential resources, while working closely with schools, shelters, and community partners. Success in this role requires strong customer service skills, cultural sensitivity, and the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in a related field; or five years related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Ability to work with a diverse group of students and families.
• Ability to communicate with a variety of stakeholders
• Demonstrated organizational skills to collect and report on data, conduct analyses, and propose recommendations for improvements to training and support systems, demonstrating organization and problem-solving skills.
• Experience working with computer programs/digital databases.
• Ability to assist with organize and execute workshops and events with many participants.
  
  

Essential Functions

• Understands all federal guidelines as they pertain to the eligibility of children and provision of services under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Act.
• Acts as a liaison between schools, shelters, and the community on behalf of homeless and highly mobile students.
• Collaborates with schools and area agencies to identify homeless students.
• Assists homeless students and families with immediate school enrollment, and obtaining documents, if needed.
• Ensures that enrollment disputes are mediated in accordance with this law.
• Collaborates with school administrators and designated school point of contacts- social workers, guidance counselors, and deans and other staff personnel- to ensure homeless families and students receive educational services and supports for which they are eligible.
• Coordinates with school point of contacts to assist with getting essential supplies that support children and youth with school success.
• Monitors attendance and truancy of homeless students.
• Assists parents/guardians in motels or doubled-up with referral for food, clothing and shelter.
• Ensures public notice of educational rights of homeless children and youth, under the McKinney-Vento Education Act, is disseminated in locations frequented by parents or guardians, children, youth and unaccompanied youth including schools, shelters, public libraries, and soup kitchens, in a manner and from understandable to families.
• Network with community agencies, businesses and organizations that can assist families in overcoming homelessness.
• Collaborates with other school district liaisons to coordinate student transportation services to and from school, including transportation to and from the school of origin.
• Maintains methods and documentation for tracking the number and location of highly mobile/homeless students.
• Writes and oversees federal and state grants that can support the school department’s homeless population.
• Facilitates the use of the district’s Pantries.
• Provides professional development to school department staff and community parents around the provisions of the McKinney-Vento Act.
• Assumes responsibility for own professional growth; attending appropriate professional meetings and conferences.
• Willing to attend occasional events not scheduled during the typical workday and ability to travel.
• Performs all other duties as assigned by the Assistant Director or Assistant Superintendent.
  
  

Security Clearance

Internal Applicants

If you are a current Detroit Public Schools Community District employee, you do not have to submit to a new security clearance, unless your new role requires a different type of criminal background check.

External Applicants

In alignment with Michigan law, if you are hired to fill a position, you will be required to submit to a Detroit Public Schools Community District criminal background check. Information regarding required background checks will be shared at point of hire.

Method Of Application

Applicants must apply through the online application system. Only applications submitted through the online application system will be considered for any posted position and all applications require a resume to be considered.

Successful candidates are required to submit official transcript(s) at point of offer to hire. Teaching service outside of the Detroit Public Schools Community District must be verified by the applicant's prior employer(s) prior to hire. It is the applicant's responsibility to provide all documentation (including copies) as requested.

Applicants requesting assistance during the application process should contact the Office of Human Resources via email at [email protected] or phone at (313) 873-6897.

DPSCD does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, religion, Contact the Civil Rights Coordinator for more information at (313) 240-4377 or detroitk12.org/compliance.