Social Worker - Georgia Connections Academy

Position Summary

Working from our office in Duluth, Georgia, or from your home in Georgia, the School Social Worker requirements include promoting the academic mission by providing services that strengthen home/school/community partnerships and alleviate barriers to learning. The Social Worker significantly contributes to the development of a healthy, safe, and caring environment by advancing the understanding of the emotional and social development of children and the influences of family, community, and cultural differences on student successes and by implementing effective intervention strategies. Dropout prevention will be the Social Worker’s primary objective.

Essential Responsibilities

• Connect students and families with available community resources to fully develop each person’s individual potential;
• Implement programs for students and families related to interpersonal adjustment issues;
• Work with school teams to identify and help families access school and community resources, in order to remove barriers to attendance and academic success;
• Participate in the development of crisis prevention and management plans for the school;
• Cook with teachers to help identify students who are “at risk” or “in crisis”
• Act as the main point of contact for these students and families, communicating regularly with them;
• Report and refer critical incidents that jeopardize student well-being as obligated by law, administrative regulations, or ethical standards;
• Stay abreast of all state regulations relating to incident reporting and documentation;
• Support professional development activities for teachers and school staff members;
• Work as part of the IEP team to develop social goals and provide virtual social work services to help the student reach these goals;
• Collaborate closely with counseling and school leadership
• Will play an integral role in HolidayGift Drive or charitable giving and launching district-wide program
• Serves as lead contact for GA Senate Bill 401 initiatives related to sexual abuse and assault awareness
• Serves as lead contact for GA Senate Bill 123 related to updated truancy laws by supporting attendance review, academic probation and exemption status (such as Hospital Homebound students)
• Promote best practices/strategies for state testing assignments and support
• Promote or organize training for staff such a Mental Health First Aid and/or a comparable programs during (and throughout the school year)
• Serves as central liaison fo foster care programming and support
• MKV program data reporting
• Responsible for social work annual audit data and state reporting components
• Other duties as assigned

Essential Skills & Competencies

• Strong commitment to equitable practice, high expectations, and individualized student support;
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills;
• Effective collaboration within virtual and in-person teams;
• Strong organizational skills and timely completion of all required documentation;
• Comfort with technology-based instruction and virtual learning tools;
• Excellent communication skills, both oral and written;
• Highly organized and punctual;
• Student and family-focused approach;
• Experience in teaching or supporting Title I schools;
• High degree of flexibility;
• Demonstrated ability to work well in a fast-paced environment;
• Team player track record;
• Strong interpersonal skills, which include the ability to work effectively with students, parents, staff, and community members from diverse backgrounds;
• Willingness to travel for marketing and state testing events (may require occasional overnight travel);
• Ability to work some occasional evening hours, as needed to support some families;
• Must be able to use a personal electronic device and an email address for two-step authentication

Physical Requirements

• This position requires frequent travel throughout the state of Georgia to conduct official school business.
• Candidates must possess a valid driver's license, maintain a clean driving record, and be comfortable with regular day trips and occasional overnight travel as needed.
• A reliable personal vehicle is required.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit for extended periods of time.
• The employee may be required to use hands to touch, handle, feel, and/or reach.
• The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.