Title: Behavioral Health Social Worker

 

LOCATION: TBD

 

The Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools (KCKPS) is a nationally recognized urban school district that serves approximately 22,000 students and 60+ different languages are spoken in the homes of our students. KCKPS is home to Sumner Academy, the #6 highest rated High School in the Nation and #1 High School in Kansas according to the US News rankings.

 

With Head Start/preschools, 28 elementary schools, 7 middle schools, and 5 college and career academies/high schools, we are the fifth largest district in the state of Kansas and our student population is approximately 56% Hispanic, 24% African American, 9% White, and 6% Asian. To serve our students, the district employs approximately 4,000 employees including more than 1,800 teachers.   

 

JOB GOAL: To provide behavioral support, training, and interventions that support the social, emotional, and cognitive development of early childhood students who are enrolled in Head Start. Provide parent education on Mental Health Topics. Provide transition support services for students and families moving from one program or service to another. Serve as an advocate for families by helping parents to access district and community resources.

 

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Ability to work an 8-hour duty day in the locations assigned. This position requires work to be performed in more than one building. Able to flex hours as needed.
• Physical and emotional ability to perform required work and move about as needed in the fast-paced, highly intensive school environment.
• Ability to use technology, i.e., Internet, e-mail, Microsoft Word, Student Data Management Software, etc.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the academic and instructional goals of the District Improvement Plan.
• Support Second Step Curriculum
• Collaborate with building administration on an appropriate plan to address school culture and climate that impacts students' social, emotional, and cognitive development.
• Devote time to classroom observations  
• Gather behavioral data on students who demonstrate behavioral concerns, using different observation tools, and provide strategies for classroom teachers.
• Guide classroom staff to collect and use data.
•  Build the capacity of classroom staff to implement behavior interventions.
• Provide behavior crisis intervention
• Gather behavioral data on students from parents and provide strategies for parents to use at home.
• Collaborate with administrators to identify trigger behaviors that result in potential office referrals and impede instruction; and to reduce the number of referrals through prevention and intervention strategies.
• Serve as a liaison through consultation with parents regarding behavioral interventions.
• Refer students and parents to appropriate community resources in collaboration with building administration and Student Services.
• Communicate effectively with students, staff, and parents.
• Demonstrate excellent interpersonal skills and professional judgment
• Plan and deliver professional development to update skills and improve knowledge of staff.
• Participate in professional development (school and department) meetings to update skills and improve knowledge as well as to satisfy recertification/ relicensure requirements.
• Demonstrate knowledge of guidance techniques
• Maintains confidentiality and model professionalism in all settings
• Participate in IEP meetings as requested
• Collaborate with staff or service providers to problem solve issues and assist in developing programs that will meet the needs of students.
• Consult and collaborate with school staff regarding the orientation of new students and collaborate with elementary school counselors on the transition of students going to elementary school.
• Maintain a neat and appropriate appearance
• Other duties as assigned

 

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Meets the employment qualifications set forth by the Kansas City, Kansas Board of Education and the Kansas State Department of Education
• Master’s Degree in Social Work is preferred
• Current Social Work license from the Behavior Science and Review Board
• Minimum of 5 years of related experience (inclusive of a school system preferred)
• Experience at the preschool/early childhood level (highly preferred)

COMMUNICATION: Maintain communication with teachers, other school personnel, and parents/guardians to enhance cooperative action, which will meet the educational needs of students. Communicate effectively and in a positive manner with parents to enhance the social emotional wellness of students. Compile data for statistical purposes. Maintain confidentiality regarding educational records.

 

ORGANIZATION: Maintain a daily log of school/staff visits and documentation. Utilize existing technology effectively in the performance of duties. Performs other related work as required. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

 

REASONING ABILITY: Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.

 

LANGUAGE SKILLS: Ability to read and analyze and interpret general professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations. Ability to write reports, general curriculum and learning theories, correspondence, and protocols. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of administrators, staff, parents, students, and the general public.

 

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, walk, stand, talk and hear. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. The employee must occasionally push items of 50 pounds such as pushing on a bike ore wheelchair, or moving/rearranging furniture. While performing the duties of the job the employee occasionally may visit a child’s home. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, and depth perception.

 

WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The noise level in the work environment is usually loud and is a standard acceptable level for this environment. Is directly responsible for students’ safety, work output and well-being.

 

OTHER SKILLS and ABILITIES: Ability to apply knowledge of current research and theory to instructional program; ability to plan and implement lessons based on school objectives and the needs and abilities of students. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with students, peers, parents and community; ability to speak clear and concisely in written or oral communication.

 

TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT: 186 days

 

FLSA STATUS:  EXEMPT

 

SALARY:         Based on KCKPS Salary Schedule

 

REPORT TO:    Director of Early Childhood and Early Childhood Administrators

 

EVALUATION: Performance will be conducted in accordance with Board of Education policy

 

Signatures

The information contained in this job description is for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (A.D.A.) and is not an exhaustive list of the duties performed for this position.  The individual holding this position performs additional duties and additional duties may be assigned.  

 

Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools is an Equal Opportunity Employer.  KCKPS is an equal opportunity employer and shall not discriminate in its employment practices and policies with respect to hiring, compensation, terms, conditions, or privileges of employment because of an individual’s race, color, religion, sex/gender (to include orientation, identity, or expression), age, disability, national origin, genetic information, or any other basis prohibited by law.

 

For more information regarding Title IX please contact:

 

District Compliance Coordinator

2010 N. 59^th Street

Kansas City, KS 66104

913-279-2262

Title IX@kckps.org

 

This job description has been approved by all levels of management:

 

Manager____________________________________________________

 

Human Resources____________________________________________

 

Employee signature below constitutes employee's understanding of the requirements, essential functions, and duties of the position.

 

Employee__________________________________ Date____________