School Caseworker

Easterseals Academy is a therapeutic school that provides schooling for children with an autism spectrum disorder, emotional disability, developmental delay, or intellectual disability. School districts refer students to Easterseals Academy where the schools provide an alternative school placement for these students to help them to achieve independence. Easterseals Academy has three campuses, located in Chicago, Machesney Park, and Tinley Park.

For more information about our organization, please visit us online at

The school Social Worker is accountable to deliver social work services as mandated on student IEPs in accordance with the Illinois State Board of Education requirements and to provide advocacy, crisis intervention, and support to all students, staff members, and family members. Position may also include internal case management as related to new intakes, ongoing communication with districts, and facilitating the IEP process along with the home district representatives.

This position is located at the Easterseals Academy - Chicago Campus at 1939 W. 13th Street, Chicago 60608.

In collaboration with the classroom team, arrange for and perform activities, materials, and prompting hierarchies that relate to the IEP goals throughout the school year

Provide and document directly/consult therapy minutes as required on student IEPs on caseload throughout the school year

Interact with the School Administrator/Program Coordinator/Clinical Coordinator and classroom staff regarding recommendations throughout the school year

Participate in all classroom team meetings on caseload throughout the school year

Participate in at least 2 outside training per school year directly related to serving students with special needs, particularly those diagnosed with autism

Participate in all scheduled in-house training throughout the school year

Update and provide progress reports quarterly and for FIEs and 30-day IEP meetings throughout the school year

Participate in all scheduled clinical meetings throughout the school year

Notify the Clinical Coordinator and classroom teacher in the event of therapy cancellation throughout the school year and document it in the service statement binder

Assist classrooms during extracurricular activities and field trips as needed throughout the school year

Complete required in-house and district-mandated documentation and/or billing requirements

Participate in IEP/FIE meetings for students on caseload as needed throughout the school year

Complete progress/contact notes on the appropriate form and maintains them in a specified location throughout the school year

Provide 2-3 in-services, either individually or in conjunction with another clinical area, for the entire staff throughout the school year

Establish and maintain a consistent form of communication with the parents/guardians of students as needed on caseload throughout the school year

Provide support, resources, and recommendations for all classrooms on caseload as needed throughout the school year.

Provide advocacy, crisis intervention, and support to staff members throughout the school year

Coordinate services for students on caseload with outside agencies such as DCFS, other schools, health care providers, etc. throughout the school year

Address concerns for student family situations throughout the school year

Act as a team leader in issues dealing with and documenting issues of student abuse and neglect throughout the school year.

Schedule and coordinate two parent group meetings per school year

Provide supervision to interns as needed throughout the school year

Requirements Education/Certification: Master’s Degree in Social Work

Experience Required: Minimum of 5 years experience working with special needs population

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ADA: Easterseals will make reasonable accommodations in compliance with the Americans with Disability Act of 1990. Unless exempted by the Americans with Disabilities Act, all persons hired for this position are required to possess the ability to perform the physical tasks necessary to treat clients, i.e., bending, floor-sitting, etc.,