Social Worker Coordinator - Chronic Absenteeism

New Orleans, LA
School Support and Improvement - Central Office – School Support /
Full-time /
On-site
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NOLA Public Schools Vision
The vision of the NOLA Public Schools is that every student receives a high-quality education that fosters their individual capabilities, while ensuring that they thrive, achieve physical and mental wellness, and are prepared for civic, social, and economic success. 

Position Summary
The position plays a critical role in improving student attendance and academic success by identifying, supporting, and engaging students who are chronically absent. This position works collaboratively with school staff, families, and community partners to address barriers to attendance and promote a positive school climate. This individual will be responsible for working with at-risk children and their families to identify the type(s) of help needed, to connect families and their children with potential help, and to facilitate and monitor the delivery of needed services in close communication with parents, teachers, and other case management team members. This individual will be responsible for working closely with schools to address attendance and behavioral concerns of students. This position requires on-going collaboration with other case managers, office staff, Juvenile and Municipal courts, law enforcement, service providers, parents, school faculty and staff, community partners and other stakeholders to address chronic absenteeism and truancy and remove the barriers to regular school attendance and dropout prevention. Flexibility and the ability to effectively multi-task is required. 

Salary Range: $45, 400 - $72,110 per year

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

    • Conduct home visits, phone calls, and meetings with families to understand and address attendance barriers.
    • Provide brief supportive counseling and case management services to students and families not to exceed 6 weeks
    • Maintain accurate records of interventions, communications, and student outcomes.
    • Ensure documentation is entered timely in the electronic data systems and student files are up to date at all times. 
    • Ability to engage and employ trauma focused strategies to engage families and de-escalate families using a trauma focused approach.
    • Ensure all parties are knowledgeable about the attendance laws and guidance as it relates to NOLA-PS and their respective assigned school
    • Assess students and families via the Truancy Center for referrals to outside agencies or internal supportive services to provide services to assist with alleviating barriers to school attendance.
    • Acts as a resource to administrators, social workers, guidance counselors, teachers and health services personnel at assigned schools regarding attendance programs, interpretation of attendance policies/laws, and record-keeping requirements. 
    • Coordinates projects to include, but not limited to: Schools Expos and fairs, Back to School events, Community Events and Attendance Awareness Campaigns; develops, coordinates and implements strategies to ensure that all tasks remain on schedule.
    • Manages community feedback tools (i.e., survey management) to determine Attendance Hearing Office utilization and effectiveness
    • Conducts follow up for students who previously engaged with Attendance Hearing Office, Truancy Center or Transitions evidence by specific follow up with family, YTD attendance record retrieval from the school and confirmation of active participation with referrals made by the Attendance Team
    • Verify chronically absent students are enrolled in the Orleans Parish public school system and placed in accordance with the NOLA-PS Enrollment Policy
    • Analyze attendance trends and generate regular reports via the data collected from the Truancy Center and Attendance Hearing Office for the Director of School Attendance and Transitions.
    • Participate in in-depth training of evidence-based solutions to address school attendance and engagement. 
    • Participate in community outreach and efforts to build and enhance community support for school attendance
    • Establish new partnerships and strengthen preexisting relationships with organizations to mitigate the barriers to school attendance
    • Participate in and explore innovative approaches to working with students who are chronically absent alongside community partners to improve school attendance.
    • Secures opening and closing of the city-wide Truancy Center each business day.
    • Serves as phone and/or in-person contact for all visitors to the city-wide Truancy Center and Attendance Hearing Office
    • Conducts intake and assessment of students dropped off at the Truancy Center, collaborating with schools, parents and law enforcement officials.
    • Will potentially assist in the management of the Truancy Center hotline and all calls to the Attendance Hearing Office, responding to questions regarding attendance law, community resources and services.
    • Maintains electronic records of all Truancy Center activities.
    • Processes incoming referrals for Attendance Hearing Office.
    • Performs other duties as assigned.

Educational Background

    • Bachelor’s or master’s degree in social work, Counseling, Psychology, or a related social science field
    • Valid state licensure or certification if applicable (e.g., RSW, CSW, LMSW, LCSW, LPC, or School Counselor Certification).
    • Experience working with youth and families in educational or community settings.
    • Strong interpersonal, communication, and problem-solving skills.
    • Knowledge of trauma-informed practices and culturally responsive approaches.
    • Strong skills in data entry, analysis, and use of student information systems (e.g., PowerSchool, Infinite Campus).
    • Bilingual preferred but not required).

      • Other Knowledge, Skills or Abilities Required
    • Working knowledge in restorative approaches and ability to utilize restorative approaches and peer mediation. 
    • Minimum of two years of case management or school social work experience.
    • Minimum of three years of experience working with children, adolescents, and families. 
    • Knowledge of community resources and counseling/social work practices with high-risk populations.
    • Demonstrated effective interpersonal skills, conflict resolution skills, and experience facilitating groups. 
    • Possess knowledge of trauma-informed mediation strategies / skills and critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
    • Possess the comfort to navigate and diffuse emotionally overwhelming situations.
    • Exceptional written and verbal communication skills. 
    • Ability to work independently with strong sense of focus, task-oriented, nonjudgmental, open personal qualities, clear sense of boundaries.
    • Ability to work in a variety of settings with culturally diverse families and communities with the ability to be culturally sensitive and appropriate.
    • A strong sense of and respect for confidentiality involving both clients and fellow employees.
    • Excellent organizational and project management skills, including the ability to work efficiently and manage multiple priorities.
    • Flexibility and comfort working in a fast-paced, changing environment.
    • Strong project management skills, including the ability to work efficiently and manage multiple responsibilities in a dynamic, fast-paced environment. 
    • Experience with data collection/compilation in education and service provider settings resulting in data-based decision making and accountability. 
    • Must possess the ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with students, parents, staff, and outside agencies. 
    • Possess or have access to an insured, functioning automobile.  
    • Possess an unwavering belief that all students can learn and achieve success in school. 

$45,400 - $72,110 a year
Salaries are determined by educational background and/or relevant years of experience.

Work Environment
Listed below are key points regarding environmental demands and the work environment of the job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.   
- Required to use motor coordination with finger dexterity (such as keyboarding, machine operation, etc.) part of the workday; 
- Required to exert physical effort in handling objects more than 30 pounds rarely; 
- Required to be exposed to physical occupational risks (such as cuts, burns, exposure to toxic chemicals) rarely; 
- Required to be exposed to physical environment which involves dirt, odors, noise, weather extremes or similar elements rarely; 
- Normal setting for this job is an office/school setting.     

Performance Evaluation
The employee will be evaluated based on the above position using either two methods: via COMPASS or a NOLA-PS evaluating instrument. If the employee holds an Educational Leadership certification, he/she will be evaluated via COMPASS to ensure renewal of certification.

EEOC Statement
NOLA Public Schools is committed to equal employment opportunities regardless of race, color, genetic information, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, lawful alien status, national origin, age, marital status, and non-job related physical or mental disability, or protected veteran status.

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