Social Worker

Job Title

To provide Individualized Educational Service Plan to students and their families to ensure implementation of the student learning framework, school attendance and positive adjustment to an educational setting; to promote a positive working relationship among and between staff and the schools by fostering a climate conducive to open communication and productive work.

Qualifications

Masters' Degree in Social Work or related field, required

Texas Board of Social Work Examiners' License, required

Communicate effectively (verbal and written); utilize effective interpersonal skills; interpret data, federal and state laws and policies, preferred

Experience that relates to the nature of the performance responsibilities, preferred

Major Responsibilities and Duties/Essential Functions

1. Keep informed about current legislation, educational developments, literature and research in Social Work Services by participating in state and national professional organizations; attend appropriate conferences and staff development sessions; disseminate professional information and materials to the schools.
2. Help students overcome barriers to school attendance and achievement.
3. Counsel student and parents individually and/or in groups on topics such as problem solving skills, parenting, family crisis, abuse of drugs and alcohol, family violence, teenage pregnancy and other topics.
4. Communicate with teachers and other staff about student life situations and home/neighborhood circumstances.
5. Assist families to understand their children's educational needs and resources available within the school.
6. Provide information to facilitate the family's use of community resources for meeting housing, clothing, nutritional and health needs.
7. Intervene early in problem situations concerning students to prevent development of more serious difficulties.
8. Provide information and referral services to appropriate community resources in physical health, mental health, public welfare and other related services.
9. Enable families to interpret their concerns to school personnel and open lines of communication.
10. Collaborate with teachers to modify classroom approaches to meet the special needs of students.
11. Foster collaborative educational efforts among staff by supporting the district's philosophy and mission.
12. Keep the principal informed regarding the status on all projects or initiatives undertaken and of directives or requests received internally or externally.
13. Foster care (Residential Facility Tracker) Intake and Foster Parent Training for District Foster Students.
14. Communicate with ECI, Region One and Easter Seals regarding referral for children with disabilities. Attend ECI/Easter Seals transition meetings in order to conduct initial referral intake with parent.
15. Assist private schools with initial referral gathering, deliver/pick up campus portion of referral and conduct parent portion.
16. Submit all completed documents to referral clerk.
17. Receive all out of school referral phone messages by parents requesting evaluation. Follow up with setting a date and time to meet parent so initial referral may be initiated.
18. Assist in the gathering of Child Outcome Summary Forms (COSF) data with guidance provided by Coordinator.
19. Serve as a liaison between outside agencies for parents with children in need of supports or services.
20. Follow McAllen ISD customer service standards.
21. Perform other duties assigned by campus principals (primary evaluator) in accordance with funding source guidelines.

Supervisory Responsibilities

None

Equipment Used

Computer, telephone, copier, fax machine, multimedia equipment

Working Conditions

Mental Demands: Maintain emotional control under stress; coordinate multiple projects; meet deadlines

Physical Demands/Environmental Factors: Frequent prolonged and irregular hours; frequent districtwide and occasional state travel