Family Engagement Liaison

Overbrook School for the Blind • Philadelphia, PA

3d • Onsite

About The Position

The Family Engagement Liaison at Overbrook School for the Blind (OSB) serves as a vital link between families, school staff, and community agencies, dedicated to supporting students who are blind, visually impaired, or have additional disabilities. This role is crucial in ensuring families possess the necessary knowledge, resources, and support to comprehend their child’s learning needs, access specialized services, and actively participate in the school community. The liaison is committed to fostering accessibility, trust, and consistent communication, creating a welcoming and inclusive environment for all families. A key function is to empower parents by helping them understand the school's systems, enabling them to become more effective advocates for their children's education. Furthermore, this position aims to expand opportunities for ongoing learning, voluntary classroom service, and broader school participation.

Requirements

• Demonstrated knowledge of communication skills and techniques.
• Demonstrated knowledge of the economic and social problems experienced by urban families.
• Demonstrated knowledge of the functions and resources of community organizations and social service agencies providing services to families and students served by OSB.
• Demonstrated knowledge of office principles, practices and procedures.
• Demonstrated knowledge of personal computer applications that are used to create reports and documents.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with parents/guardians to address their specific concerns.
• Demonstrated ability to work flexible hours including evenings and weekends, as initiative’s outreach events dictate.
• Demonstrated ability to employ tact, diplomacy and sound judgment in dealing with sensitive issues.
• Demonstrated ability to promote and encourage parental participation in a variety of school-wide initiatives.
• Demonstrated ability to understand and respect the use appropriate technology and a variety of software applications in order to create reports, maintain records and provide data, as needed.
• Demonstrated ability to host and plan parent meetings and attend community meetings off school site and in the local community and or neighborhoods.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
• Demonstrated ability to establish and effective working relationships.
• Strong collaboration skills and the ability to work across educational, medical, and community systems.
• Cultural responsiveness and respect for diverse family structures, backgrounds, and perspectives.
• Knowledge of the unique psychosocial needs of children who are blind or visually impaired.
• Understanding of the relationship between medical complexity, disability, family systems, and educational access.
• Ability to communicate effectively with individuals who use a variety of communication methods.
• Ability to work with students with significant cognitive, sensory, physical, behavioral, and communication differences.
• Associate degree from an accredited college or university in human services, social work, psychology, education, or a closely related field.
• Two years of full-time, paid experience in social services or a related field that has included working with parents, schools and children or community organizations.
• Knowledge of special education and multidisciplinary service delivery.
• Strong understanding of confidentiality, mandated reporting, professional ethics, and student safety requirements.
• Excellent written, verbal, interpersonal, organizational, and crisis-management skills.
• Ability to work effectively as part of a multidisciplinary educational team.
• Ability to maintain appropriate professional boundaries while developing strong relationships with students and families.

Nice To Haves

• Experience working in a school, pediatric healthcare, rehabilitation, or other setting serving children with complex needs.
• Experience working with students who are blind or visually impaired.
• Experience with students with cortical visual impairment (CVI), deafblindness, multiple disabilities, or complex medical needs.
• Experience working with children who use augmentative and alternative communication (AAC).
• Experience with trauma-informed practices and crisis intervention.
• Experience coordinating services with hospitals, pediatric specialists, behavioral health providers, county agencies, and community organizations.
• Experience with transition planning and adult service systems.
• Knowledge of Pennsylvania special education regulations and community-based services.
• Must be certified in First Aid and CPR/AED.

Responsibilities

• Conduct comprehensive social work assessments and identify student and family needs.
• Prepares monthly family engagement action plans to reach and engage all families in the school community and maintain records on program activities.
• Orient new families to school programs, including blindness-specific instruction, related services, health support, and assistive technology.
• Works in tandem with the OSB Social Worker to coordinate individualized support to families adjusting to a new diagnosis or significant change in vision.
• Ensure families receive timely updates regarding student progress, health information, therapy schedules, and school events.
• Work with interpreters, translators, and accessibility staff to meet the needs of multilingual families and families requiring alternative formats.
• Serve as a liaison between families and Health Services, ensuring clear communication regarding medication, health plans, medical appointments, screenings, and emergency procedures.
• Collaborate closely with OT, PT, and SLP, behavior teams to help families understand therapy goals, progress, home carryover activities, and scheduling.
• Collaborates with Superintendent, Educational Supervisors, and the Communication and Development Departments on projects aiding students and families.
• Help families access community support when needed, including medical specialists, vision rehabilitation services, early intervention, mental health providers, transportation assistance, and social service agencies.
• Helps to coordinate and execute events on campus for recruitment of new students.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and benefits package reflective of the applicant’s training and experience
• Liberal financial support for the pursuit of advanced degrees

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Associate degree