TITLE: School Social Worker SUPERVISOR: Director of Student Services and Special Education DEPARTMENT: Division of Teaching and Learning CLASSIFICATION: Certified I. Accountability Objectives: School social work plays a vital role in education. The school social worker is a member of the Student Service Team within the Division of Teaching and Learning. Within the school, the objectives include: 1) direct service including behavior intervention to the child and his/her family, 2) work with the individual or small groups of children, 3) inform school personnel of social work findings through the evaluation process, and 4) act as liaison person with other community social agencies. II. III. Position Characteristics: Salary: Length of Contract: Position Relationships: Reports to: Coordinates with: On Schedule 189 Days Director of Student Services and Special Education Student Services Department Chair person(s), Principals, guidance counselors, teachers, and support staff. IV. Position Qualifications: A. Required Qualifications: This position requires that the school social worker hold a certification issued by Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (#50), a Master s Degree in Social Work, and a certification as a social worker by Wisconsin Department of Regulation and Licensing. B. Desired Qualifications: Three years of experience in a recognized social service agency working with children and families, and training in school related and/or social work settings. School social workers are also expected to participate in continuing ethics and boundary training as required every two years by the Wisconsin Department of Regulation and Licensing. C. Special Requirements: 1. Knowledge of public educational goals. 2. Knowledge of, and ability to apply, state and federal regulations as they pertain to general and special education services. 3. Knowledge of and familiarity with the Wisconsin Pupil Services Standards as articulated through the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction. 4. Knowledge of the Wisconsin Teaching Standards as articulated through the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction. 5. Knowledge of social work skills at all three levels of intervention (micro, mezzo and macro practice) including systemic intervention, group work and case work. 6. Knowledge of community resources and ability to help families access these resources as appropriate to overcome barriers to learning. 7. The ability to cooperate with other school personnel in meeting overall District, school, and social work goals. Page 1 of 3
8. Knowledge of social, mental health and child welfare issues that impact families and children s education. 9. Knowledge and personal awareness of the role that race, economic injustice, and culture play in presenting barriers to education as well as how to overcome these same barriers. 10. Familiarity and training in Non-Violent Crisis Prevention and Intervention. 11. Knowledge of and awareness of the Response to Intervention (both academic and behavioral) framework and how to intervene therein. 12. Ability to conduct social/emotional education evaluations and present social work findings to related IEP teams. 13. Ability to utilize data as foundation to evidence based interventions within the Response to Intervention framework. V. Position Responsibilities: A. Provide consultation and collaborative services to the Early Learning Initiative, Eau Claire County Birth to Three program, building staff and administration on the day-to-day functioning and welfare of students. B. Provide individual case management services and evaluations based on adaptive behaviors (including the administration of adaptive behavior scales), socio-cultural adjustment, social history as appropriate for students with suspected disabilities in coordination with school psychologist at assigned buildings. C. Assist in the smooth transition of special education students as they pass from special education to regular education and vice versa, including transition to and from child caring institutions where education services are provided. D. As required, help meet student needs, coordinate school and community services such as those provided by day care centers, dental, medical and mental health, work-orientation centers, county welfare agencies, family service agencies, community action programs and other human service organizations. E. Collaborate with other professionals in classroom management with specific regard to aspects of the curriculum concerned with social and emotional development, behavior, family cooperation, and adaptive behaviors as they related to cultural background, experiences, and linguistic variables utilizing evidence based approaches that emphasize prevention and early intervention. F. In-service for school personnel and parents as related to any and all procedures relevant to children with special education needs as well as pertinent social issues. G. Work with principals to identify children with poor attendance. Work with families, children, and school staff to prevent truancy in individualized cases. If needed, assist with referrals to juvenile court intake, and provide monitoring of cases after referral and disposition. H. Provide in-service, consultation, and assistance to faculty, staff, and families as needed in matters related to child welfare. I. Regular attendance and active participation as a member of assigned school Student Support Teams (SSTs), Individualized Education Plan (IEP) Teams, and attend parent/teacher conferences when necessary and appropriate. J. Provide crisis follow-up and coordination services to families and children after traumatic family incidents. K. Provide linkage to, and advocacy for, community resources that a family may have need for. L. When appropriate, school social workers will engage in, or assist other school personnel with, preventive endeavors, whether labeled developmental guidance, primary prevention, Page 2 of 3
character education, affective education or systems intervention, and with other student needs such as body image, grief and loss, family changes, etceteras. M. Research, develop, and evaluate school social work programs relating to children with special education needs. N. Serve as appropriate on building based crisis intervention/support teams. O. Performs other duties as directed. Mandates that are addressed by school social work services: IDEA, Protective Behaviors (Wis. Stats. 115.368), Human Growth and Development (Wis. Stats. 118.019), Suicide Prevention (Wis. Stats. 118.295), School Aged Parents Program (Wis. Stats. 115.92), AIDS Education, Compulsory School Attendance (Wis. Stats. 118.15 & 118.16), Children-at-risk (Wis. Stats. 118.153 & 120.02(1)(b)). Eau Claire Area School District 500 Main Street, Eau Claire, Wisconsin 54701 (715) 852-3000 Fax (715) 852-3004 New: 03/1978 Revised: 02/1983 (Department Name Change), 03/2001, 11/2009 Location: R:\Position Descriptions\Certified\School Social Worker.doc Page 3 of 3
TITLE: School Social Worker SUPERVISOR: Director of Student Services and Special Education DEPARTMENT: Division of Teaching and Learning CLASSIFICATION: Certified I. Accountability Objectives: School social work plays a vital role in education. The school social worker is a member of the Student Service Team within the Division of Teaching and Learning. Within the school, the objectives include: 1) direct service including behavior intervention to the child and his/her family, 2) work with the individual or small groups of children, 3) inform school personnel of social work findings through the evaluation process, and 4) act as liaison person with other community social agencies. II. III. Position Characteristics: Salary: Length of Contract: Position Relationships: Reports to: Coordinates with: On Schedule 189 Days Director of Student Services and Special Education Student Services Department Chair person(s), Principals, guidance counselors, teachers, and support staff. IV. Position Qualifications: A. Required Qualifications: This position requires that the school social worker hold a certification issued by Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (#50), a Master s Degree in Social Work, and a certification as a social worker by Wisconsin Department of Regulation and Licensing. B. Desired Qualifications: Three years of experience in a recognized social service agency working with children and families, and training in school related and/or social work settings. School social workers are also expected to participate in continuing ethics and boundary training as required every two years by the Wisconsin Department of Regulation and Licensing. C. Special Requirements: 1. Knowledge of public educational goals. 2. Knowledge of, and ability to apply, state and federal regulations as they pertain to general and special education services. 3. Knowledge of and familiarity with the Wisconsin Pupil Services Standards as articulated through the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction. 4. Knowledge of the Wisconsin Teaching Standards as articulated through the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction. 5. Knowledge of social work skills at all three levels of intervention (micro, mezzo and macro practice) including systemic intervention, group work and case work. 6. Knowledge of community resources and ability to help families access these resources as appropriate to overcome barriers to learning. 7. The ability to cooperate with other school personnel in meeting overall District, school, and social work goals. Page 1 of 3
8. Knowledge of social, mental health and child welfare issues that impact families and children s education. 9. Knowledge and personal awareness of the role that race, economic injustice, and culture play in presenting barriers to education as well as how to overcome these same barriers. 10. Familiarity and training in Non-Violent Crisis Prevention and Intervention. 11. Knowledge of and awareness of the Response to Intervention (both academic and behavioral) framework and how to intervene therein. 12. Ability to conduct social/emotional education evaluations and present social work findings to related IEP teams. 13. Ability to utilize data as foundation to evidence based interventions within the Response to Intervention framework. V. Position Responsibilities: A. Provide consultation and collaborative services to the Early Learning Initiative, Eau Claire County Birth to Three program, building staff and administration on the day-to-day functioning and welfare of students. B. Provide individual case management services and evaluations based on adaptive behaviors (including the administration of adaptive behavior scales), socio-cultural adjustment, social history as appropriate for students with suspected disabilities in coordination with school psychologist at assigned buildings. C. Assist in the smooth transition of special education students as they pass from special education to regular education and vice versa, including transition to and from child caring institutions where education services are provided. D. As required, help meet student needs, coordinate school and community services such as those provided by day care centers, dental, medical and mental health, work-orientation centers, county welfare agencies, family service agencies, community action programs and other human service organizations. E. Collaborate with other professionals in classroom management with specific regard to aspects of the curriculum concerned with social and emotional development, behavior, family cooperation, and adaptive behaviors as they related to cultural background, experiences, and linguistic variables utilizing evidence based approaches that emphasize prevention and early intervention. F. In-service for school personnel and parents as related to any and all procedures relevant to children with special education needs as well as pertinent social issues. G. Work with principals to identify children with poor attendance. Work with families, children, and school staff to prevent truancy in individualized cases. If needed, assist with referrals to juvenile court intake, and provide monitoring of cases after referral and disposition. H. Provide in-service, consultation, and assistance to faculty, staff, and families as needed in matters related to child welfare. I. Regular attendance and active participation as a member of assigned school Student Support Teams (SSTs), Individualized Education Plan (IEP) Teams, and attend parent/teacher conferences when necessary and appropriate. J. Provide crisis follow-up and coordination services to families and children after traumatic family incidents. K. Provide linkage to, and advocacy for, community resources that a family may have need for. L. When appropriate, school social workers will engage in, or assist other school personnel with, preventive endeavors, whether labeled developmental guidance, primary prevention, Page 2 of 3
character education, affective education or systems intervention, and with other student needs such as body image, grief and loss, family changes, etceteras. M. Research, develop, and evaluate school social work programs relating to children with special education needs. N. Serve as appropriate on building based crisis intervention/support teams. O. Performs other duties as directed. Mandates that are addressed by school social work services: IDEA, Protective Behaviors (Wis. Stats. 115.368), Human Growth and Development (Wis. Stats. 118.019), Suicide Prevention (Wis. Stats. 118.295), School Aged Parents Program (Wis. Stats. 115.92), AIDS Education, Compulsory School Attendance (Wis. Stats. 118.15 & 118.16), Children-at-risk (Wis. Stats. 118.153 & 120.02(1)(b)). Eau Claire Area School District 500 Main Street, Eau Claire, Wisconsin 54701 (715) 852-3000 Fax (715) 852-3004 New: 03/1978 Revised: 02/1983 (Department Name Change), 03/2001, 11/2009 Location: R:\Position Descriptions\Certified\School Social Worker.doc Page 3 of 3