School Social Worker- State Teacher II - Platte Valley Youth Services Center

State of Colorado•Greeley, CO

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The School Social Worker supports students, school personnel, and stakeholders across the educational system at the Division of Youth Services. The position coordinates mental health services, behavioral supports and interventions, social-emotional and special education assessments, and consultation and training in school settings. It applies knowledge of school systems, education law, curriculum and instruction, classroom and behavior management, working with diverse populations, school-based intervention, and transition practices to foster a safe school environment and address issues that interfere with students’ access to education. The role provides social-emotional assessments; collaborates with teachers and administrators on services and interventions; develops progress-monitoring systems; plans psychoeducational groups; supports a positive school climate; and develops student-specific and school-wide behavioral strategies. It also works across facility and school teams to coordinate supports, contribute to special education assessments and meetings, provide IEP-related services, and support Section 504 obligations. The position trains stakeholders, communicates with supervisors, reports program strengths and limitations, and participates in program development and continuous improvement. The assigned location is Platte Valley Youth Services Center, 2200 O Street, Greeley, Colorado 80631. The employee is required to work at the assigned location during scheduled hours: Monday through Thursday, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., and alternating Fridays, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Work arrangements may change. Applicants must be Colorado residents at the time of application and remain residents throughout employment.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in a field of study related to the work assignment.
Current, valid Professional Teacher license issued by the Colorado Department of Education.
Two years of professional experience in an occupational field related to the work assigned.
Current and valid Colorado Department of Education Special Service Provider license in School Social Work, School Psychology, or School Counseling, or an allowable substitution.
Allowable special-service-license substitutions include a current and valid Colorado DORA license as a Psychologist (LP), Social Worker (LSW or LCSW), Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT), Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), or Addiction Counselor (CADC).
For academic teaching assignments, a current, valid Colorado Adult Basic Education Authorization may substitute for the Colorado Professional Teacher license.
For all teaching assignments, a current, valid Interim Teacher license or Temporary Educator Eligibility Authorization may substitute for the Colorado Initial or Professional Teacher license.
Colorado residency at the time of application and throughout employment.
Ability to complete a full background check and reference check.

Nice To Haves

Two or more years of school social worker experience.
Experience working with at-risk youth.
Experience with Section 504 plans.
Strong organizational and time-management skills.
Experience collaborating across complex systems.
Understanding of trauma-responsive and restorative environments.
Master’s degree in a related field.
Knowledge of trauma-informed practices and their application to at-risk populations and classroom instruction.
Project-based learning experience.
Experience with special-needs populations.
Relevant State of Colorado experience.

Responsibilities

Conduct social-emotional assessments and collaborate with teachers to plan student services and interventions.
Consult with teachers and administrators and develop systems for tracking mental health and behavioral progress.
Plan and implement preventative and remedial psychoeducational groups for students whose behavior affects learning.
Design and implement school-based programs to promote a positive school climate in collaboration with school administration.
Provide evidence-based supports to school personnel to address barriers to learning.
Develop behavioral intervention strategies for individual students or school-wide use.
Lead and train others to facilitate restorative justice circles; participate in conflict resolution and anger management as needed.
Facilitate functional behavioral analyses and develop behavior intervention plans.
Support internal and external Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) and participate in appropriate multidisciplinary team meetings.
Collaborate with education staff, behavioral mental health partners, assessment specialists, and client managers.
Consult with facility clinical, behavioral, mental health, and school staff about research-based interventions and possible classroom-environment modifications.
Build relationships with facility transition workers and assist with educational transitions for youth.
Develop behavioral plans that coordinate support between education and facility milieu environments.
Participate in special education team meetings and consult on formal and informal behavioral and related-service assessments.
Prepare social developmental histories for initial and reevaluation meetings.
Participate in Manifestation Determination and Crisis Response Team meetings.
Provide related services specified in Individualized Education Programs and assist with co-teaching affective-needs classes.
Support the school’s Section 504 obligations.
Maintain ongoing communication with the supervisor about mental health support, services, and interventions across DYS commitment facilities.
Identify and report special education program and systemic strengths and limitations to the supervisor.
Participate in program development, train stakeholders on school social work topics, and serve on continuous-quality-improvement committees.
Provide other school-based supports as needed, including interdisciplinary problem-solving, intervention planning, school improvement planning, prevention services, affective education, and support for academic, behavioral, bullying, harassment, and family concerns.

Benefits

PERA defined benefit or defined contribution retirement plans, plus 401(k) and 457 plans.
Medical and dental health plans.
Employer-supplemented Health Savings Account.
Paid life insurance.
Short- and long-term disability coverage.
Eleven paid holidays per year, plus vacation and sick leave.
State of Colorado Employee BenefitHub Resource Center.
Employee Wellness program.
Work-life programs, including flexible schedules and training.
Remote work arrangements for eligible positions.
Some positions may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.