COMMUNITIES IN SCHOOLS

JOB DESCRIPTION

SUMMARY:

This position will be responsible for the day-to day operations of the program at the school site. The Crisis Intervention Specialist works closely with the principals, counselors, students, parents, community members, and other concerned individuals to ensure that identified Communities In Schools of Southeast Harris and Brazoria County programs are provided.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING:

• Coordinates services for identified students and families during the school day and possibly before and after school.
• Interviews students and/or parents and/or guardian with problems such as personal and family adjustments, abuse, criminal conduct, finances, employment, food, clothing, housing, and physical and mental impairments to determine nature and degree of problem.
• Secures information such as medical, psychological, and social factors contributing to student's situation, and evaluates these and student's capacities.
• Counsels student individually, in family, or in other small groups regarding plans for meeting needs, and aids student to mobilize inner capacities and environmental resources to improve social functioning.
• Helps student to modify attitudes and patterns of behavior by increasing understanding of self, personal issues
• Maintains working knowledge of community resources and agencies and connects the appropriate resources to individual students’ and families’ needs
• Refers and follows up with student and/or parent and/or guardian to community resources and other organizations.
• Compiles records and prepares reports, meeting required deadlines in a timely manner.
• Reviews service action plan and performs follow-up inquiries to determine quantity and quality of services provided to the student and status of student's case.
• Accesses and records student and community resource information.
• Secures supplementary information such as free and reduced lunch status, discipline reports, grades, and other school data reports necessary to acquire an accurate assessment of the student’s needs.
• Actively involve volunteers in their areas of interest and expertise.
• Work closely with principal(s) and counselor(s) to effectively structure programs, meeting the needs of the individual campus setting. When required, determines student's eligibility for financial assistance.
• Effectively meeting the objective of the CIS-Crisis Intervention program through individual mentoring and/or counseling and/or organized group sessions.
• Organizing and maintaining student case files in compliance with the Perfect File Checklist as outlined by CIS.
• Plan, organize, and implement program design to effectively meet the needs of the students and families.
• Relate, motivate, encourage students, parents/guardian and/or administrators, faculty, and staff.
• Have knowledge of resources in either Southeast Harris and/or Brazoria County area.
• Must be able to interact consistently in a positive manner with a diverse group of individuals of the school, city, and state entities.
• Compile and submit reports and information in a timely manner.
• Exhibit excellent work attitude, strong work ethic, and self-motivation.
• Be responsible for program planning and implementation of objectives.
• Facilitate, develop, and/or conduct workshops as deemed necessary by the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Operating Officer and/or Program Director.
• Encourage and motivate parents to become actively involved along with their children in school activities.
• Work with students and parents to implement recreational and extracurricular activities to enhance self-esteem and reinforce developmental skills.
• Work with parents, students, and staff in CIS fund-raising activities and provide a financial report following each activity.

SUPERVISION

The site coordinator is supervised by the Communities In Schools of Southeast Harris and Brazoria County, Crisis Intervention Program Director. (See organizational chart)

EDUCATION

Masters Degree strongly preferred in Social Work, Psychology, Sociology, or a related field.

LICENSE

Licensure in either psychology or social work, or a related field required.

EXPERIENCE

A minimum of three years’ experience in work setting. Must be able to work with students and parents of low and medium incomes and interface with various members of school and community.

QUALIFICATIONS

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.

LANGUAGE SKILLS

Ability to read, analyze, and interpret common and/or technical documents. Ability to respond to common inquiries or complaints from the campus site or community or Austin. Ability to effectively present information to faculty, staff, administrators, community, and/or board of directors.

REASONING ABILITY

Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in any form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables.

TECHNICAL SKILLS

While performing the duties of Site Coordinator, a minimum of two years computer experience in Microsoft Word, and Excel, or other comparable programs will be required to perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to effectively utilize a software program (CISTMS) used for data entry, after reasonable training has been conducted. The Site Coordinator is required to do data entry into the software program, maintaining detailed student activities for state-wide reporting purposes.

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. Each campus site and office accommodations will vary from campus to campus.

TRAVEL

To perform this job successfully, an individual must possess a valid Texas Driver's license, be insurable with a good driving record. An individual will be required to operate their personal motor vehicle to make home visits; attend meetings; attend conferences; attend workshops; attend training sessions. The individual may be required to travel to Austin, or a location designated in Brazoria or Southeast Harris County areas and/or in Texas, for training purposes. Attend scheduled staff meetings in which pertinent information is disseminated.

OTHER SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Oral and written communication skills.
• Be well groomed.
• Present professional appearance.
• Exhibit excellent work attitude and interpersonal skills.
• Work in team environment by partnering with other site coordinators.
• Have the ability to function in a diverse job situation.

Equipment Used to Perform Job:

Daily: Occasionally:

Telephone Ten key/calculator

Copy Machine Fax Machine

Computer Camera

Physical Requirements:

To perform the job, a person must have the ability to do the following physical actions:

• Frequently sit (approximately 25% to 80% of the time)
• Frequently stand (approximately 10% to 60% of the time)
• Frequently walk (Approximately 10% t0 40% of the time), generally from 5-30 feet within the office.
• Frequently lift and carry an average of 5 to 20 pounds and occasionally as much as 40 to 70 pounds or more. Items to be lifted or carried might include, but are not limited to, boxes or files, copy paper, supplies, materials, donations, etc. Most items will be carried by hand. Most items must be lifted to knee or waist level, some items lifted to chest level and only a few items overhead.
• Frequently push and pull objects in order to open and close file drawers, occasionally move items around the office such as a box of copy paper or computer paper, occasionally a small piece of furniture, the office chair, the vacuum cleaner, etc.
• Occasionally bend and kneel to file, retrieve items, etc.
• Occasionally flex upper trunk forward at the waist and partially flex knees, sometimes twisting or rotating upper trunk to right or left while sitting or standing.
• Occasionally place arms above, at, and below shoulder height to reach.
• Occasionally climb stairs or inclined surfaces.
• Ability to get to and from work; ability to move from one work location to another work location during the day if necessary. Possession of a valid Driver's License for transportation purposes or to run necessary errands. Must furnish current proof of insurance.
• Must be able to work a flexible schedule. This position may require some work on evenings and weekends.

Environmental Conditions

• Occasionally requires going outside during hot or cold temperatures or during wet conditions in order to work with clients or prepare for special events.
• Occasionally requires going outside during evening and night hours.
• Works alone at times, but usually works with others.
• May have somewhat cramped work quarters depending on availability of office pace.

Appearance

• Neat
• Professional
• Must reflect as a proper representation of CIS

Adherence to the Philosophy, Policies and Procedures of Communities In Schools – Texas Joint Venture.

• Employee must demonstrate knowledge of and performance in accordance with the philosophy of compassion, caring and respect for the welfare and dignity of others.
• Must display a non-judgmental acceptance of all students/parents/volunteers/staff/co-workers.
• Establish and maintain good rapport in working relationships.
• Display appropriate and consistently positive attitude.
• Remain composed during stressful situations.

EEO Statement

CIS-SHC and BC employees are protected by federal laws, Presidential Executive Orders, and other laws designed to protect employees from discrimination on the bases of race, religion, color, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), sexual orientation, parental status, national origin, age, disability, family medical history or genetic information, political affiliation, military service, or any other non-merit based factor. These protections extend to all management practices and

decisions, including recruitment and hiring practices, appraisal systems, promotions, and training and career development programs.

CIS-SHC AND BC employees are also protected against retaliation. Consistent with federal laws, acts of retaliation against an employee who engages in a protected activity, whistle blowing, or the exercise of any appeal or grievance right provided by law will not be tolerated. CIS-SHC AND BC managers and supervisors are also reminded of their responsibility to prevent, document, and promptly correct harassing conduct in the workplace.

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