Maya Angelou Schools/See Forever Foundation hiring School Social Worker/Clinical Counselor at Maya Angelou PCS - Resume Drop in Washington, DC | LinkedIn (2024)

DescriptionThe OrganizationSince it began operating in 1997, the See Forever Foundation's mission has been to create learning communities in lower-income urban areas where all students, particularly those who have not succeeded in traditional schools, can succeed academically and socially.The Foundation operates the Maya Angelou Public Charter Schools in DC, as well as the Maya Angelou Academy at New Beginnings’, DC Jail and YSC. Our students develop the academic, social, and employment skills they need to build rewarding lives and promote positive change.

If you are interested in learning more about See Forever, please visit our website at www.seeforever.org.

The TouchstoneAt 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 OverviewThe School Social Worker/Clinical Counselor 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 which 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 being disconnected from the school setting. To that end, the Clinical Counselor will play an integral role in providing direct individual, group, and familial clinical intervention to MAPCS students.

RequirementsResponsibilitiesSpecific 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 other Clinical Services Team members to select and deliver targeted group counseling interventions
• Collaborate with other Clinical Services Team members in assessing clinical service gaps and establishing connections with external resources to effectively address these gaps
• Ensure that all pre/post assessments (e.g., Panorama Assessment and 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)
• Collaborate with core service agencies and other community-based organizations to provide robust clinical and case management support to all students
• Perform weekly outreach with students to ensure they remain engaged and connected with programs and supports offered by MAPCS
• Facilitate professional development and training opportunities for the greater school community regarding 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 Lead Social Worker to recruit, select, train, and supervise graduate mental health interns from local colleges and universities
• Maintain comprehensive files and documentation on all students, including copies 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 orally and written)
• Excellent clinical and case management skills
• Prior direct service experience working truant and disconnected youth
• Demonstrates team spirit, initiative, and a willingness to collaborate with all members of the school community
• Ability to work collaboratively and cooperatively as a member of a multidisciplinary team
• History of effectively assessing the psycho-educational needs of students and families
• Holds oneself accountable, sets high expectations for self and others, and works both independently and collaboratively
• 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)
• LCSW - Social Work License (Required)
• OSSE certification is strongly preferred at hire (must obtain this certification within 1 year of employment)
• 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 setting
• 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 BenefitsOur salaries are comparable to those of other public schools in the District of Columbia area. In addition, See Forever offers a robust benefits plan, including health care coverage, HSA/FSA and dependent care accounts, voluntary dental, vision, short-term and long-term disability options, commuter benefits, a 401k retirement savings plan, student loan refinancing options, and 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.