Coordinator of School Social Work and Families in Transition in Reading

To coordinate social work services, including clinical supervision of The Reading School District Social Workers that promotes adherence to District policies and procedures; leads to the development and implementation of needs assessments, professional development plan, student treatment plans; and provides nurturing conditions that encourage self-efficacy within the Department.

To collaborate with school district personnel, the Berks County Intermediate Unit, Berks County Children and Youth and other county children and youth agencies (CCYAs), community agencies and partners, and post-secondary institutions to improve educational and social-emotional outcomes for homeless and foster youth.

Essential Functions

• Coordination of School Social Work Services
• Have a clear understanding of the skills and knowledge of School Social Work practice.
• Have specialized knowledge and understanding about the cultures and needs of the Reading School District population, including students, families and staff.
• Maintain current knowledge and expertise on policies and procedures related to school attendance, trauma-informed practices, and crisis response.
• Provide clinical supervision of School Social Workers according to the Best Practice Standards in Social Work Supervision per the National Association of Social Workers.
• Review treatment plans as part of counseling services for students with Individualized Education Plans.
• Collaborate with Building Administrators to:
• Assign tasks to School Social Workers that is consistent with departmental and building priorities.
• Complete observations and evaluations on an annual or biannual basis.
• Schedule and organize department meetings.
• Review and identify strengths and opportunities for growth within the School Social Worker's quarterly data sharing.
• Prepare and maintain appropriate written reports and records.
• Supervise students in internships or practicums, or support School Social Workers precepting these students.
• Coordinate appropriate activities and professional development with other Student Support Services departments.
• Review policies and procedures and make recommendations for changes to supervisor.
• Participate in the development of community resources and services.
• Maintain professional relationships with local, regional, state and national resources and organizations related to School Social Work.
• Ensure that McKinney-Vento eligible children and youth are identified by school personnel and through coordination with other agencies.
• Ensure that McKinney-Vento eligible children and youth immediately enroll in, and have a full and equal opportunity to succeed in school.
• Ensure that families with McKinney-Vento eligible children and youth receive educational service referrals for which they are eligible, including Head Start programs, and preschool programs administered by the district, as well as referrals to health care services, dental services, mental health services, free school meals, and other appropriate services.
• Ensure that the parents or guardians of McKinney-Vento eligible children and youth are informed of the educational and related opportunities available to their children and are provided with meaningful opportunities to participate in the education of their children.
• Make school placement decisions based on the best interest of the child.
• Provide a written explanation, including a statement regarding the right to appeal, to the parent, guardian, or unaccompanied McKinney-Vento eligible youth, if the district decides to send the student to a school other than the one requested.
• Ensure that enrollment disputes are mediated according to local, state, and federal policies.
• Ensure that there is public notice of the educational rights of McKinney-Vento eligible children and youth (posters, brochures).
• Facilitate transportation arrangements for McKinney-Vento eligible students.
• Assist unaccompanied youth with school enrollment and placement decisions.
• Collaborate with central and building administrators to ensure building homeless liaisons are appropriately selected, trained and follow policies and procedures.
• Conduct a needs assessment to prioritize activities and services.
• Collect data on homeless children and youth and submit to the regional office.
• Cooperate with the regional office, including data collection and annual monitoring.
• Foster Youth
• Serve as the school district foster care point of contact to promote educational stability for students in foster care, including supporting best practices for local policies and procedures that remove barriers to education for youth in foster care.
• Coordinate regularly with CCYA Education Liaisons to implement ESSA's Title I, Part A provisions, which includes collaboration, participation in school placement best interest determinations (BID), provision of transportation, and facilitation of immediate enrollment and records transfers.
• Ensure school district representation in the BID process for youth in foster care within an appropriate timeframe.
• Encourage a cooperative process with all parties involved to complete the enrollment and records transfer process, when changing schools is in the student's best interest.
• Serve as a resource/link to school administration and staff, parents, foster parents, and other providers to ensure educational stability policies and procedures are followed and documented at all times.
• Serve as a "connector" for youth in foster care so that they are able to access school-based resources.
• Facilitate communication between the CCYA Education Liaison and other foster care liaisons, such as the child's caseworker, as needed.
• Ensure the CCYA receives current educational information of a student to promote educational stability.
• Aware of local transportation plan procedures/policies and responsible for communicating proposed changes with transportation plan partners, as well as submitting any/all transportation plan changes to PDE.
• Assist in coordinating local transportation procedures for youth in foster care to remain in the school of origin by notifying the school of origin transportation designee and communicating identified options with the placing CCYA.
• Participate in local, regional, and statewide training to ensure understanding of regulations and processes as they pertain to the enrollment and educational stability of youth in foster care.
• Ensure school district staff is trained about the benefits of educational stability and ESSA's Title I, Part A provisions for youth in foster care.
• Assist in resolving disputes, as needed, including ensuring that disputes among agencies do not interrupt the educational stability of youth in foster care.

Supervisory Responsibilities

School Social Workers

Qualifications

• Cultural sensitivity and competence and a commitment to equity in all aspects of education.
• Experience working in urban environments and community agencies providing services to children and families.
• Ability to understand regulations and procedures related to McKinney-Vento and foster youth.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Strong planning, organizational, problem solving, time-management and project management skills.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively, as needed for various situations.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality.

Education / Licensure / Experience

• Current Pennsylvania Department of State license as a licensed clinical social worker.
• Current PDE Supervisory, Principal or Pupil Services Certification.
• At least three years of experience as a School Social Worker.
• At least three years of experience as a social worker handling issues pertaining to homeless and foster youth.
• Prior experience in the Reading School District preferred.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is continuously required to sit and talk or hear. Occasionally the employee will repeat the same hand, arm or finger motion many times. The employee must be able to attend meetings in the evening and at other locations. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision as ability to read handwritten or typed material, and the ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet. The employee is frequently required to interact with the parents, public and other staff. The position requires the individual to meet multiple demands from several people and exhibit good human relation skills including courtesy, tact and patience. The employee is directly responsible for the safety, well-being and work output of students.

Terms of Employment

As per terms and conditions set forth in the contract between the RSAA and the Reading School District. 12 month exempt position.

Evaluation

The employee will be formally evaluated with regard to his/her duties on a regular basis by the immediate supervisor as required by Board Policy and Department of Education regulations. The position holder must be able to perform the essential job functions with or without reasonable accommodations. It is the responsibility of the employee to inform the school district administrator designated as immediate supervisor of the position, of any and all reasonable accommodations that will be required.

The information contained in this job description is for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (A.D.A.) and is not an exhaustive list of the duties performed for this position. Additional duties are performed by the individuals currently holding this position and additional duties may be assigned.

The Reading School District is an equal opportunity employment, educational and service organization.