Family Social Worker

Family Social Worker

Originally founded in 1991 as Harlem RBI, DREAM has grown to annually serve more than 2,500 youth across East Harlem and the South Bronx through a network of seven PreK-12, extended-day, extended-year DREAM Charter Schools and community sports-based youth development programs. Through our commitment to rigorous academics, social-emotional learning, deep family and community engagement, and health and wellness, we create lifelong learners who are equipped to fulfill their vision of success in and out of the classroom. We dream big, as well, with an aggressive five-year plan to expand to serve 3,500 students across seven schools —growing our organization's impact and leveling the playing field for all children.

Reporting to the Dean of SEL and Community (DSC), the Family Social Worker will manage a defined caseload of families with students enrolled at the campus, providing direct case management and targeted interventions in close collaboration with school staff to address social, emotional, and environmental factors impacting student success.

Case Management & Intervention

• Manage a defined caseload of high-priority families, including attendance cases, McKinney-Vento eligible families, and those experiencing disengagement or fractured school relationships
• Provide direct case management and counseling services to students and families, including ongoing check-ins, family meetings, and home visits
• Develop and implement individualized intervention plans in collaboration with teachers, school leadership, and student support teams to support successful student attendance and engagement in school
• Hold ownership for the progress of assigned cases, ensuring timely follow-up, clear action steps, and measurable outcomes

Communication with School-Based Teams

• Partner closely with teachers, school leadership, and student support teams to identify student and family needs
• Participate in grade team meetings, student support meetings, and attendance review cycles to identify needs, contribute to student support planning, and coordinate family interventions
• Support teachers and school staff in understanding family context and connecting insights to student support strategies

Data-Driven Decision Making & Documentation

• Analyze attendance, behavioral, and academic data to proactively identify families in need of support and prioritize interventions
• Integrate multiple data sources to inform decision making and case prioritization
• Track progress against intervention goals and adjust strategies when progress is not observed
• Monitor implementation of intervention plans and ensure fidelity across stakeholders
• Maintain accurate and timely documentation of all case work, meetings, and interventions in appropriate systems

Family Engagement & Resource Coordination

• Collaborate with families to ensure a positive partnership by providing consistent communication aligned to student progress
• As part of case plans, connect families to relevant external resources including housing, mental health services, public benefits, and legal services
• Build and maintain relationships with community-based organizations to support family needs
• Initiate and maintain communication with outside agencies (e.g., SCR/ACS systems, foster care system) tied to student needs as needed

Professional Responsibilities

• Demonstrate strong time management and follow-through across multiple active cases
• Engage in regular supervision with school leadership to reflect on case progress, problem-solve challenges, and strengthen intervention strategies
• Uphold a high bar for professionalism, confidentiality, and ethical practice
• Additional duties related to the running of the school as assigned

Qualifications

• Master's Degree in Social Work, Mental Health Counseling, Marriage and Family Counseling, or a similar field, required;
• New York State Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW), or Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC), strongly preferred;
• 3+ years of experience in case management, counseling, or social services, preferably in a school-based setting;
• Demonstrated understanding of school systems, structures, and stakeholder dynamics;
• Experience collaborating effectively with teachers, administrators, and multidisciplinary teams;
• Experience managing caseloads and driving progress across multiple cases;
• Strong ability to use data to inform decision making and prioritize interventions;
• Experience using case management, referral, and data systems;
• Extensive experience utilizing evidence-based therapeutic approaches with students and their families in diverse, underserved communities;
• Experience providing crisis intervention (e.g., assessing for suicidality) with a trauma-informed and restorative justice approach;
• Working knowledge of state regulations related to child abuse, neglect, and other urgent care issues;
• Excellent oral and written communication skills;
• Ability to work independently in a fast-paced environment;
• Bilingualism in Spanish, highly preferred;
• A strong belief in the mission and values of DREAM, including the desire to make a difference in the lives of our students, families, and community.

Working Expectations

• This role supports both the elementary and middle school families
• On-site work during school hours required
• This is a year-round (12 month) position

Benefits and Paid Time Off

• Flexible Medical Health Plans, subsidizing the majority of costs for the employee, their spouse/domestic partner and children;
• The ability to select between a variety of medical plans according to what best suits the employee's needs;
• Dental and vision plans;
• Disability benefits;
• Life insurance;
• Up to 12 weeks fully paid of Parental Leave;
• Flexible spending account options;
• Pre-tax commuter benefits (parking and transit);
• Fitness and entertainment discounts;
• A variety of support through our employee assistance program (EAP);
• 403(b) retirement plan with employer match starting at 4% after one year, with increases tied to DREAM tenure;
• Referral, performance, and tenure milestone bonuses;
• Discounted school meals through our in-house Scratch Food Program;
• Tuition reimbursement support;
• Access to a professional development fund;
• School-based 12-month employees have approximately 48 days off throughout the school year including holidays, school breaks, personal days, and wellness days.
• Benefits are subject to change.

Compensation

• DREAM offers a competitive salary commensurate with relevant experience with the potential for an annual performance-based increase. The incoming salary range for this position is $79,000 to $101,000 per year. New hires are typically brought into the organization at a salary closer to the start of the range depending on qualifications, internal equity, and the budgeted amount for the role. All staff are eligible for annual performance-based increases. Because we value staff tenure in each role, we do not currently cap salary ranges.

Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

At DREAM, diversity, equity, and inclusion are a matter of mission.

From our schools to our playing fields, DREAM is committed to building a team where each individual can bring their full identity and experience to work because representation matters—it enriches our team culture, enhances our ability to innovate, and strengthens our impact in and out of the classroom. DREAM engages staff that represent and appreciate the diversity of our majority Black and Hispanic student body, while working to ensure that our practices are equitable, welcoming, and productive. We are dedicated to creating a world where youth, especially youth of color, have permission to dream—along with the tools and opportunities to make their dreams reality.

Come dream with us.

DREAM Maxims

All Kids Can. This Kid Can.

DREAM is Family.

Fun is a Serious Value.

Teamwork Makes the DREAM Work.

Fail. Persist. Exceed.

DREAM Big.

Applying to DREAM

We know applying for a new job can be a daunting process. In addition, studies have shown that historically underrepresented individuals often only apply to roles if they meet 100% of the qualifications. We encourage all applications! You may be