McKinney-Vento Intake Support Specialist Full Time

Location: Akron, Ohio - District Office / Various School Sites
Reports to: McKinney-Vento District Liaison
Employment Status: Full-time, 40-hour week
Salary: $24.51/hr–$29.53/hr
FLSA Status: Non-Exempt
Retirement Status: SERS

About the Role

The McKinney-Vento Intake Support Specialist ensures adherence to federal education requirements for homeless and housing unstable youth. This position serves as the initial point of contact to ensure that homeless students are enrolled in school and have equitable access to education programs. The role requires collaboration across departments to support enrollment, transportation, and access to K-12 programs and services, ensuring core protections as outlined in the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act.

Responsibilities

• Field community calls regarding homeless education services, qualifications, and parent/guardian rights.
• Verify receipt and distribution of written rights to parents or guardians twice annually.
• Ensure all families and youth are properly identified and enrolled in school in accordance with federal mandates.
• Monitor student enrollment continuity permits to ensure access to education.
• Verify homeless and unaccompanied youth residential status for coordination of transportation to and from school(s).
• Ensure proper identification and verification of homeless and unaccompanied youth to prevent isolation or separation into distinct programs.
• Support families in securing required documentation for school enrollment in compliance with McKinney-Vento mandates.
• Maintain accurate and confidential records of student interactions and assessments, adhering to legal and ethical standards.
• Secure necessary signatures on rights disclosures from parents and independent youth.
• Collaborate with district personnel and departments to secure programmatic and resource support for homeless and unaccompanied youth, addressing basic needs, academic, attendance, and graduation challenges.
• Ensure proper referrals to case managers, school counselors, and transportation personnel to coordinate school enrollment and meet non-academic needs.
• Maintain strict alignment with all federal, state, and local district guidelines.
• Input and maintain accurate student housing codes, demographic information, and intake notes within the district's Student Information Systems (e.g., eSchoolPLUS) or other data collection systems.
• Track and monitor sub-categories of homelessness (e.g., sheltered, unsheltered, motels, doubled-up) for precise state and federal compliance reporting.
• May be required to drive a motor vehicle with a valid Ohio operator's license and travel within and outside the school district.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience in Social Work, Psychology, Sociology, Education, or a related human services field.
• Minimum of 1 year of experience working with urban youth and families, or individuals experiencing homelessness and/or housing instability.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills and strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Knowledge of community resources and ability to identify appropriate services for referrals.
• Ability to develop, implement, and manage multi-disciplinary case plans for students (academic, social services, transportation, healthcare, etc.).
• Proficient in Microsoft Office and Google Workspace.
• Adaptive and flexible to accommodate changing environments.

Preferred Qualifications

• Multilingual.
• Prior experience with data collection and management.
• Knowledge in trauma-informed crisis management.