Social Worker, Family Advocacy & Support Services

Social Worker

To provide a system of supportive services within the school community for the purpose of understanding children who are having difficulties in utilizing the resources of the school and helping to create a climate that encourages all children to participate effectively in the educational process, and to strengthen families in order that their children may better benefit from the education provided them.

Essential duties include:

• Work with the Assistant Superintend ant of Student Services, principals and staff in resolving problems of individual students.
• Receive referrals from the Assistant Superintend ant of Student Services, attendance officer, principals, guidance counselors, psychologists, nurses, teachers, parents, community agencies, and self-referring students.
• Develop awareness of students who are at-risk, including potential dropouts, behavior problems, academic failures, runaways, chemically dependent, pregnant, depressed, attendance problems, etc.
• Diagnose and evaluate the problem following referral through interview with student and conference with parents or guardian. Make recommendations to students and parents/guardian.
• Make home visitations to foster relationships, resolve concerns, accumulate data, and promote communication between home, school, and/or community resources.
• Work with families to help facilitate communication, involvement, and support within the family.
• Initiate referrals and provide feedback to referral sources on recommendations.
• Provide counseling services to students and parents when desired or requested by individuals or groups.
• Be available at times of crisis to any individual, family, or school.
• Participate in case conferences/staffing as appropriate.
• Serve as liaison between student, home, school, and community resources.
• Assist in providing school reports requested by the community agencies.
• Maintain personal records to render the best possible service to students, parents and staff.
• Provide follow-up support to students returning to their schools from treatment programs, detention and correction schools.
• Participate in in-service training planned by the department to provide for growth and stimulation of the social work staff.
• Attend conferences, workshops and professional meetings, when feasible, to keep informed of the most effective programs in the delivery of social work services.
• Plan, develop and recommend ideas to the principal and school staff to meet anticipated needs of students with emotional or social difficulties.
• Work cooperatively with all persons with whom he or she comes in contact, both within the school family and in the community at large.
• Serve as resource person for classroom programs and for the development of workshops and seminars for parents and school staff.
• Performs other duties and assignments as assigned by the Principal and/or the Assistant Superintend ant of Student Services.

Terms of employment:
Salary according to Board Policy GDBA-9;
Fringe benefits as per Board Policy.