The School Social Worker provides direct individual, group, and familial clinical interventions to students to remove barriers to instruction. Responsibilities include delivering behavioral support, managing crisis interventions, and developing the YALC Wellness Course.
Requirements summary
A Master's degree in social work, counseling, or psychology and a LISW license are required. Candidates should have experience working with justice-involved youth and a commitment to strength-based intervention practices.
postgraduate degreeCase ManagementDocumentationCrisis InterventionTrauma-Informed CareIndividual CounselingGroup CounselingYouth DevelopmentInterdisciplinary CollaborationClinical AssessmentProfessional Development FacilitationStudent OutreachSocial and Emotional Learning
Job description
The Touchstone
At the Maya Angelou Schools, the key to our success is rooted in building trusting, respectful, and nurturing relationships with each other.
We strive to create safe spaces for all to be able to reach their limitless potential.
We are at our best when we work together to ensure the unique needs of our community are met.
We empower each other to grow successfully so we can see forever!
This is how we live the Maya Way, even when no one is watching.
Position Overview
The School Social Worker will serve as a member of the Clinical Services Department, which is dedicated to working collaboratively with all school personnel (teachers, administrators, and support staff) to remove the barriers that prevent students from accessing instruction. We believe that every student benefits from having dedicated professionals whose major responsibility is a student’s emotional growth and well-being. In order to reach this vision, the Maya Angelou Learning Center recognizes that incorporating mental health services as an integral part of the school program is critical to the success of our students.
Historically, the Maya Angelou Schools have served students who present with a host of risk factors, and more than 80% of our students report that they have experienced significant trauma (i.e., being the victim of sexual trauma, having at least one parent who is incarcerated, having experienced the death of a close relative). Additionally, many of our students come to us having been unsuccessful in traditional public high schools, have a history of truancy, and are disconnected from the school setting. To that end, the School Social Worker will play an integral role in providing direct individual, group, and familial clinical intervention to YALC students.
Responsibilities
Specific responsibilities will include but not be limited to
Provide weekly behavioral support services (i.e., individual and group counseling) to all Exceptional Learners and general education students (as needed)
Collaborate with the Deputy Chief of Student Support Services to select and deliver targeted group counseling interventions
Assist the Deputy Chief of Student Support Services in assessing clinical service gaps and establishing connections with external resources to address these gaps effectively
Benefits
401(k) Retirement Savings Plan
FSA
HSA
Dental Benefits
Vision Benefits
Health Care Coverage
Dependent Care Accounts
Ensure that all pre/post assessments (e.g., Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale and the Resiliency Scales for Children & Adolescents) are administered timely
Provide crisis intervention and triage referrals to community support agencies as needed (i.e., substance abuse support and grief and loss counseling)
Develop and instruct the YALC’s Wellness Course, which will consist of extensive life, social and soft skills coupled with youth development
Collaborate with core service agencies and other community-based organizations to provide robust clinical and case management support to all students
Perform weekly outreach for students to ensure they remain engaged and connected with programs and supports offered by the YALC
Facilitate professional development and training opportunities for the greater school community about the impact of untreated trauma and positive outcomes of implementing Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) and trauma-informed practices within the school program
Collaborate with the discipline team and school administrators to provide support to students struggling to cope with the negative behavioral impact of external factors
Collaborate with the Deputy Chief of Student Support Services to recruit, select, train, and supervise graduate mental health interns from local colleges and universities
Maintain a comprehensive file on all students, which includes a copy of their counseling intake, consents, academic records, etc.
Adhere to the protocol for maintaining confidential clinical files and referral process to follow up on secured data
When necessary, communicate with parents and/or guardians to engage them in improving the student’s attendance, behavioral, and academic performance
Performing other duties as assigned by the Principal or Deputy Chief of Student Support Services
Knowledge and Skills
Demonstrates uncompromising ethics and personal integrity by adhering to the highest standards of ethical behavior
Excellent documentation, organizational, and communication skills (both oral and written)
Excellent clinical and case management skills
Prior direct service experience working with opportunity and justice-involved youth
History of effectively assessing the psycho-educational needs of students and families
Strong problem-solving and crisis intervention skills
Qualifications
Master’s degree in a related field is required (social work, mental health/community counseling, or clinical/school/counseling psychology)
License (LISW) required
OSSE certification is strongly preferred. Candidates must secure this within a year of hire
Experience with the basic concepts of positive youth development, clinical assessment, and strengths-based prevention/intervention theory and practice
Experience working in community-based mental health, family health/mental health, and or public school settings
Experience supervising graduate mental health interns (counseling, social work, or psychology) preferred
Must have strong skills in documenting efforts and interventions
Must have a commitment to working from a strength-based and/or youth development perspective
Experience with providing teacher consultation and support
Salary and Benefits
Maya Angelou Schools and See Forever Foundation salaries are comparable to those of other public charter schools in the District of Columbia area. Part-Time employees who work at least 30 hours per week are eligible for medical benefit coverage. We offer a robust benefits plan, including health care coverage, HSA/FSA, and dependent care accounts, voluntary dental and vision benefits, a 401 (k) retirement savings plan with employer contribution offered after 1 year of service, along with the opportunity to positively impact students with a broad range of experiences and backgrounds.
See Forever is an equal-opportunity employer. We believe a diverse staff is a better, more effective staff.
Market context
DC school social worker roles stay competitive
In District of Columbia schools, school social worker openings are often driven by student mental health needs, attendance concerns, and support for justice-involved youth. These roles can be competitive because employers look for a master’s degree, a LISW license, and experience with strength-based intervention practices. Review the AI-summarized requirements and benefits here to save time, then tailor your application to show direct youth-support experience and readiness to work in a school setting.
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