Education Specialist Social Worker

Job Description: Education Specialist | Helping Youth Rediscover Their Potential Wellspring Lutheran Services – New Directions, Livonia | Full-Time | Salary $50,000 Accepting Applications through September 30, 2026 Our youth are capable of incredible growth when they have the right support, encouragement, and opportunities around them. You entered this field because you believe in helping others discover their strengths, build confidence, and achieve things they may not have thought possible. You understand that learning happens in many different ways and that success looks different for every young person. At New Directions, you'll have the opportunity to help youth develop the skills, confidence, and educational foundation they need to build meaningful futures. Through encouragement, advocacy, and relationship-building, you'll help young people recognize their potential and work toward goals that matter to them. The impact of that work can last a lifetime. At Wellspring Lutheran Services, we're looking for an Education Specialist to join our New Directions team—a trauma-informed residential program serving youth with developmental disabilities and co-occurring emotional and behavioral challenges. In this role, you'll help bridge the gap between education, treatment, and residential care. You'll advocate for youth, coordinate educational services, support academic success, and collaborate with schools, therapists, residential staff, and families to ensure every young person has the opportunity to reach their full potential. Most importantly, you'll help young people discover that their future is bigger than their circumstances. What Your Impact Will Look Like You'll become an important advocate for youth as they navigate their educational journey, helping ensure they have access to the resources, services, and support they need to succeed. You'll work closely with schools, special education programs, vocational services, and community partners to help create opportunities that meet each resident's unique strengths, challenges, and goals. You'll help youth transition into new educational settings, celebrate academic progress, overcome obstacles, and develop confidence in their abilities. You'll collaborate with therapists, residential staff, psychiatrists, families, and teachers to ensure educational goals are integrated into each young person's overall treatment and growth plan. You'll help identify barriers to success and develop creative strategies that keep youth engaged, motivated, and moving forward. You'll have opportunities to provide individual support, tutoring, educational programming, life skills development, and advocacy that empowers youth both inside and outside the classroom. Some days you'll be attending IEP meetings, coordinating educational services, and communicating with teachers. Other days you'll be helping a resident overcome a school-related challenge, developing summer programming, supporting vocational goals, or celebrating a breakthrough that reminds a young person of what they're capable of achieving. Every day, you'll have the opportunity to change the trajectory of a young person's future. The Professional We're Looking For You believe every young person deserves the opportunity to succeed. You are passionate about education, youth development, and helping others reach their potential. You approach challenges with patience, creativity, and a strengths-based mindset. You understand the impact trauma can have on learning and development. You enjoy collaborating with schools, families, therapists, and community partners. You are organized, adaptable, and comfortable managing multiple priorities. You believe that hope, encouragement, and consistency can transform lives. What You'll Bring Bachelor’s degree in education, social work, or a related human services field. Experience working with youth who have developmental disabilities, emotional impairments, behavioral challenges, or special education needs. Experience working with youth who have experienced trauma, loss, or significant life challenges. Strong communication, advocacy, and relationship-building skills. Ability to collaborate effectively with schools, families, and multidisciplinary teams. Access to reliable transportation and ability to travel within the community as needed. A commitment to trauma-informed, youth-centered care. Why Wellspring Lutheran Services? At Wellspring Lutheran Services, we believe every young person deserves someone who will advocate for them, encourage them, and help them reach their full potential. Our New Directions team provides comprehensive, trauma-informed residential services for youth with developmental disabilities and co-occurring emotional and behavioral challenges. Our program addresses each resident's whole-person needs through therapeutic counseling, educational support, life skills development, and recreational opportunities designed to help youth heal, grow, and prepare for a successful future. This is more than an education role. It's an opportunity to change lives. We Offer Health, dental, and vision insurance Paid time off and paid holidays 403(b) retirement plan with employer matching Employee Assistance Program (SupportLinc) Professional development and training opportunities A collaborative, multidisciplinary team environment Meaningful work that positively impacts youth and families Opportunities for growth within Child & Family Services Schedule Full-time Primarily daytime schedule aligned with school and program needs Flexibility to work occasional evenings as needed. Time spent both on campus and within community school settings. Participation in team meetings, school meetings, treatment planning, educational programming, and community-based activities. About us For more than 130 years, Wellspring Lutheran Services has been a trusted partner for families across Michigan, providing compassionate support and critical services to help people thrive during times of challenge and change. With deep roots in communities statewide, our team is united by a shared vision of changed lives, strong families and transformed communities. Our mission: Motivated by Christ's love, we engage people as they experience and embrace their God-given potential. Full job description available during the interview. We have a bold vision at Wellspring. We truly believe that through the way we serve and love others, we can change lives, strengthen families and transform communities. We also believe each person who walks through our doors has purpose. One of the most rewarding gifts we receive daily is the opportunity to embrace that purpose, by using our God-given gifts to transform the lives of others. This may be the people we serve – or it may be through our interaction with each other as coworkers. #J-18808-Ljbffr Lutheran Child & Family Service of Michigan, Inc.