Behavioral Specialist

Purpose and Scope:

OVERVIEW

Memphis-Shelby County Schools is seeking dynamic educational champions ready to position our district as a national exemplar of education transformation. We need leaders with a fierce commitment to actualizing a bold vision that yields ambitious outcomes for more than 110,000 students and families across the Memphis-Shelby County area. The reality is that we can do better for kids, and we will with the right leaders in place. The most successful candidates believe that more is possible for Memphis and are:

• Courageous Thinkers & Doers: Prepared to navigate and thrive in a complex and ambiguous environment on day one, present innovative ideas to address systemwide issues, and execute sustainable plans toward transformation.
• Solutions-Oriented: See the possibilities, demonstrate the capacity to synthesize information and adjust short and long-term goals, and consistently find a window when doors close to deliver measurable results for kids and families.
• High-Performing Gamechangers: Leader of leaders with the capacity to mobilize and empower an outstanding team, make people-centered data-informed decisions, and operate with a relentless hyperfocus on removing stubborn barriers that destroy the hopes and dreams of too many of our students.

SUMMARY DESCRIPTION:

Coordinates, plans, and implements support programs and services within the District and the community to ensure the academic and social success of students.

Essential Job Functions:

1. Consults and collaborates with teachers, staff, counselors, parents/guardians, and others to assist students and families in achieving optimal academic and social success.
2. Work effectively with parents and staff to improve the quality of life for their children.
3. Will have no more than 40 families to each Family Service Advocate.
4. Collaborate with families in the family partnership process to identify the family’s needs, interests, strengths, goals, services and resources that support family well-being, including family safety, health, and economic stability within 30 calendar days of the family’s enrollment as described in Shelby County Family and Community Engagement Plan.
5. Serves as an advocate for students and families and as a liaison between families and appropriate agencies which can provide services to those in need of additional assistance.
6. Assesses the need for professional intervention services, including psychological, social, or medical services, and makes the appropriate referrals.
7. May support the ERSEA team with determining student eligibility based on the poverty criteria for service selection.
8. May part take in student onboarding, recruitment and registration.
9. May conduct case management and home visits when assigned.
10. Seeks and secures available resources within the community that will meet the needs of students and families.
11. May assists ERSEA Senior and Family Engagement Managers in evaluating the effectiveness in increasing parent participation and identifies barriers to parent participation such as low income, disabilities, limited literacy, language, cultural, or ethnic considerations.
12. Plans, coordinates and implements programs and services for parents and students designed to support Head Start initiatives, regulations and family support.
13. Plans and presents meetings, training, and workshops for parents to inform them of Shelby County Head Start/Early Childhood Department goals and objectives, policies and procedures, programs and services.
14. Monitors family management support plans and files.
15. Provides parents with resources to help them better meet the educational and social needs of students: assesses need for professional intervention services, including psychological, social or medical services, and makes appropriate referrals; provides family, life and job interview skills training as a means to enhance opportunities for families; provides resources to parents who are in need of housing, food and clothing.
16. Counsels parents in coping with everyday living, maintaining healthy lifestyles and developing positive relationship skills.
17. Helps parents become more engaged in the academic and social education of their children; provides information to parents about their children's classes, assessment test requirements, school-related activities, and opportunities.
18. Identifies opportunities for and encourages parents' participation as volunteers at their children's school(s).
19. Seeks and secures commitments of community support and resources for parents; promotes programs through presentations and the preparation and dissemination of informational fliers and other materials.
20. Tracks and documents student assessment data and attendance; reports unexcused absences and student academic concerns to parents.
21. Conducts surveys and interviews program participants to evaluate program effectiveness and family support.
22. Prepares and submits accurate and complete documentation of all assigned cases.
23. Receives and responds to inquiries, concerns and complaints in areas of responsibility.
24. Performs routine administrative/office tasks as required, including but not limited to preparing reports and correspondence, copying, and filing documents, answering the telephone, sending and receiving faxes and e-mails, entering and retrieving computer data.
25. Attends training, conferences, and workshops as appropriate to enhance job knowledge and skills.
26. Performs other related duties as assigned or directed.

Minimum Qualifications:

Graduation from and accredited college or university with a Bachelor's degree or equivalent and two (2) years of related experience in Head Start, Social Work/Sociology.(PROOF OF EDUCATION, TRAINING, AND/OR EXPERIENCE IS REQUIRED).

Degree Equivalency Formula:

Bachelor’s Degree= 4 years plus required years of experience.

Master’s Degree= 2 years plus required years of experience. Where Master’s degrees are required, years for bachelor’s Degrees must be included.