Title: School Liaison
Reports To: Social Work Coordinator
Position Purpose: Evaluate the needs of students attending district schools that are in state custody and students with behavioral health needs to identify health care referrals within the community.
Qualifications:
MA in Social Work or a related Human Services field
Prefer 3 years related experience working with adolescents
Knowledge/Ability/Skills:
- Knowledge of community resources in and around Topeka Public Schools
- Ability to develop effective professional relationships with community partners, students, parents and district personnel
- Ability to communicate effectively, verbally and in writing
- Knowledge of Topeka Public Schools policies, regulations and operations
- Skilled in problem solving
- Ability to gather, interpret and report data
- Skilled in project and time management.
- Ability to organize priorities
Physical/Emotional Requirements: The incumbent may be required to use the following skills and abilities during any part of the working day:
Speaking, hearing, visual, walking/mobility, standing, consistency of temperament, ability to work with a variety of problems at the same time, and stamina for working long hours. Position may require travel to student residences within the city of Topeka.
Performance Responsibilities:
- Evaluate student personal and/or mental health needs and identify appropriate referrals such as food, transportation, clothing, mental health, medical, child welfare and related needs. Link and/or coordinating school and community resources to better serve the families of exceptional students; help schools obtain appropriate support from social and mental health agencies; and advocate with community planning bodies for new or improved services to children in need.
- Prepare reports related to outcomes and needs. Report findings to the building administrator, district administration and community partners as required.
- Coordinate information gathering from therapists, case managers and school personnel to monitor identified needs and confirm that services are being provided.
- Provide problem solving services to students which may include forming groups of students and non-identified students to work toward specific goals; consulting with teachers of about classroom management techniques; and offering group support opportunities for parents of students interested in enhancing their parenting skills.
- Communicate with student families to make them aware of recommendations related to their student and to facilitate services with community mental health centers. This may include using professional clinical skills when interviewing parents; formalizing information gathered about a student in a manner helpful to the understanding of that student in an educational setting; and continually updating professional knowledge about the mental health of children in order to refer families to community agencies when appropriate.
- Assist students and their families negotiate barriers to receiving services such as transportation, identification of available services, completing applications for services and similar functions. This may include interviewing the family to discuss their child's educational adjustment; identifying with the family the resources they might access to alleviate family stress; working with parents to facilitate support of their children's school adjustment; and serving as liaison between the home and school.
- Communicate with other communities and school districts when student travel to or from Topeka Public Schools to insure continuity of care.
Terms of Employment:
10.5 months; salary and work year to be determined by the Board of Education.
Evaluation:
Performance of this position will be evaluated in accordance with provisions of the Board policy on evaluation of certified professional staff.
Significant associations:
The performance responsibilities are not limited to those outlined in this description and may include any other responsibilities as assigned by the administrator/supervisor.
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