Family and Education Specialist

Overview

Join a Team That Changes Lives

For more than 170 years, Elwyn has been leading the way in supporting children, teens, and adults with autism, intellectual and developmental disabilities, and behavioral health challenges. As a mission-driven nonprofit, we’re here to create real change – helping people lead meaningful, fulfilling lives.

Now, we’re looking for passionate team members to join us. Here, your work will change lives – including your own. You’ll make an impact every day, find purpose in what you do, and grow in a career that truly matters.

At Elwyn, we take care of you while you care for others. We offer:

• Generous Paid Time Off
• Comprehensive Medical/Dental/Vision Benefit Packages
• Earned Wage Access/On-Demand Pay
• Paid On-the-Job Training
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Career Advancement Opportunities and Growth
• Flexible Schedules
• Retirement Savings Plan

The Family and Education Specialist is responsible for coordinating the admission of new students to Elwyn Davidson School, located in Media, Pennsylvania. This role oversees the referral, intake, and admissions processes while making recommendations regarding educational programming and placement. The Family and Educ Spec collaborates with parents, referring school districts, charter schools, Intermediate Units (IUs), and other educational partners to facilitate referrals and ensure a seamless admissions experience.

This position coordinates the collection and review of educational, medical, and demographic information to determine whether the student's Individualized Education Program (IEP) can be appropriately implemented at Elwyn Davidson School and prepares the educational team for each student's admission. The Family and Educ Spec conducts school tours, facilitates meetings with families, students, Local Education Agency (LEA) representatives, and school personnel, and conducts student observations to support placement decisions.

Additionally, this position develops and maintains collaborative relationships with both internal and external referral sources through regular communication, monitors referral trends, and manages school census to ensure enrollment goals, benchmarks, and timelines are consistently achieved.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Using knowledge of Special Education, assesses all children presented for admission and evaluates appropriateness of placement. Makes determination for placement and for educational programming for each admitted student.
• Develop and administer the school admission process from start to finish including forms, communication, process steps, tracking and reporting.
• Ensures all referrals are responded to in the established timeline
• Tracks progress against census goals and openings
• Reports trends using data and information gleaned from process management and the reporting database
• Generates regular and routine summary reports on admissions including fill rates, trend on admissions and denials including reasons, referral source, etc.
• Receive and review referrals by phone, email, or fax, and log referrals according to date received and respond, in writing, to submitting school districts within forty-eight (48) hours;
• Conduct a thorough review of the referred child's IEP, Record Review (RR), Positive Behavior Support Plan (PBSP), and Functional Behavior Analysis (FBA), and prepare assessments based on information and specific admissions criteria to make a placement determination;
• Conduct meaningful tours with families & potential students to discuss and showcase how Elwyn can meet the student's educational needs.
• Schedule, coordinate, and facilitate the student interview process including, but not limited to, student/family interviews, team interviews, providing parent handbook, promotional materials, and program information to referral sources including families and individuals interesting in placement planning, conducting student and family tours, and child observations to provide high quality and exemplary admissions and enrollment processes for children and their families
• Notify each family of admissions decision and send district and school personnel the child’s projected start date, or…