Social Worker - Decatur Township School of Excellence

The School Social Worker at Decatur Township School for Excellence serves as a vital member of the student support team, promoting the academic, behavioral, social-emotional, and mental wellness of students in grades 9-12. Working collaboratively with students, families, school staff, and community agencies, the School Social Worker removes barriers to learning by providing direct support, coordinating services, implementing attendance interventions, and connecting students and families with resources that improve educational outcomes.

This position is committed to advancing the MSD of Decatur Township Mission of Student Invested. Community Connected. while supporting the districts Vision of Preparing Students to be Tomorrow Ready through relationships, advocacy, collaboration, and service.

Reports To

• Director, Decatur Township School for Excellence

Contract

• 194-Day Certified Contract
• Salary commensurate with experience in accordance with the MSD of Decatur Township salary schedule

Essential Responsibilities

Student Support Services

• Provide individual and small-group social-emotional counseling utilizing evidence-based practices.
• Deliver crisis intervention services for students experiencing emotional, behavioral, family, or mental health crises.
• Conduct suicide risk assessments and assist with safety planning in collaboration with school administration and district protocols.
• Participate as an active member of the schools Threat Assessment Team and Crisis Response Team.
• Support students in developing social-emotional competencies, resilience, self-advocacy, and healthy decision-making skills.
• Assist students with transitions into, through, and beyond high school by addressing barriers that impact attendance, engagement, and success.
• Provide short-term counseling while coordinating long-term community-based supports when appropriate.
• Facilitate a school-based Mindfulness Course designed to strengthen students social-emotional wellness, self-awareness, self-regulation, stress management, resilience, and positive coping strategies.
• Serve as a member of the Student Support Team, collaborating with administrators, counselors, teachers, and intervention staff to identify barriers to student success and coordinate comprehensive supports.
• Conduct home visits as needed to strengthen school-family partnerships, improve attendance, support student engagement, assess barriers to learning, and connect families with appropriate school and community resources.

Attendance & Student Engagement

• Lead and coordinate attendance interventions in alignment with district attendance expectations and Indiana law.
• Conduct home visits to support student attendance, engagement, and family partnerships.
• Utilize RaaWee and other district systems to document interventions, communications, outcomes, and follow-up actions.
• Facilitate attendance meetings with students and families.
• Collaborate with administrators, counselors, and teachers to identify and remove barriers contributing to absenteeism.
• Monitor attendance trends and proactively implement intervention strategies before chronic absenteeism develops.
• Serve as the schools designated McKinney-Vento Liaison, ensuring compliance with the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act.
• Identify and support students and families experiencing homelessness by removing barriers to enrollment, attendance, participation, and academic success.
• Coordinate transportation, educational stability, and access to school services for eligible students.
• Collaborate with district personnel and community agencies to connect families with housing, food, clothing, healthcare, transportation, and other essential resources.
• Maintain required documentation and records related to McKinney-Vento services while ensuring confidentiality.
• Provide guidance and training to school staff regarding the rights and protections afforded to students experiencing homelessness.
• Advocate for equitable educational opportunities and continuity of services for students in transition.

Family & Community Partnerships

• Build positive relationships with students and families through consistent communication, advocacy, and problem-solving.
• Connect families with community resources that address housing, food insecurity, healthcare, transportation, and mental health needs.
• Coordinate referrals to community mental health providers and monitor student participation and progress.
• Collaborate with:
• Community mental health agencies
• Decatur Township Drug-Free Coalition
• Decatur Township Police Department
• Indiana Department of Child Services (DCS)
• Juvenile Probation
• Community-based organizations and wraparound service providers
• Support families in navigating school and community systems to promote student success.

Collaboration & School Leadership

• Serve as a collaborative member of the Student Support Team and the schools Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) process alongside the Coordinator of Student Services to identify and implement Tier II and Tier III interventions.
• Participate in Student Support Team meetings to identify interventions and monitor student progress.
• Collaborate with counselors, administrators, teachers, school psychologists, behavior specialists, nurses, and other student support personnel.
• Participate in Functional Behavioral Assessment (FBA), Behavior Intervention Plan (BIP), and Case Conference Committee meetings as a student support resource.
• While this position does not provide Special Education-related services, the School Social Worker will contribute expertise regarding social-emotional needs, family engagement, attendance, and community resources.
• Assist staff in understanding the impact of trauma, poverty, adverse childhood experiences, and mental health on student learning and behavior.

School Climate & Prevention

• Promote a positive, inclusive, and student-centered school culture.
• Support restorative practices that strengthen relationships and student accountability.
• Collaborate with school leadership to develop prevention initiatives focused on student wellness, substance abuse prevention, violence prevention, and positive school climate.
• Assist in developing and implementing schoolwide social-emotional learning initiatives.

Professional Responsibilities

• Maintain accurate and confidential student records in accordance with FERPA, HIPAA, and district policies.
• Participate in district professional learning and ongoing professional growth.
• Maintain required certifications and professional licensure.
• Attend before- and after-school meetings, family conferences, and school events as needed.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Principal.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelors or Masters Degree in Social Work from an accredited institution.
• Eligible for employment as a School Social Worker in the State of Indiana.
• Demonstrated ability to build positive relationships with students, families, and staff.
• Strong communication, organization, and collaboration skills.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise sound professional judgment.

Preferred

• Indiana School Social Worker License.
• Licensed Social Worker (LSW) or Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW).
• Experience working with high school students.
• Experience implementing Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS).
• Experience with trauma-informed practices.
• Experience with restorative practices.
• Experience utilizing Motivational Interviewing techniques.
• Experience collaborating with community agencies and wraparound services.
• Knowledge of adolescent mental health, substance abuse prevention, attendance interventions, and crisis response.
• Experience working within diverse educational settings.
• Experience serving as a McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Liaison or supporting students and families experiencing housing instability.
• Experience facilitating mindfulness, wellness, or social-emotional learning groups for adolescents.
• Experience conducting home visits and coordinating community-based interventions.

Core Competencies

The successful candidate will demonstrate:

• Student-centered decision-making
• Relationship building and trust
• Collaboration and teamwork
• Cultural responsiveness
• Ethical practice and confidentiality
• Crisis management and problem solving
• Strong communication skills
• Leadership through service
• Organization and attention to detail
• Commitment to continuous improvement

Alignment with MSD of Decatur Township

The School Social Worker will support the district by advancing:

Our Mission

Student Invested. Community Connected.

Our Vision

Preparing Students to be Tomorrow Ready.

Our Culture Guide

• Respect
• Teamwork
• Excellence

Portrait of a Graduate

• Communication
• Collaboration
• Knowledge
• Thinking
• Work Ethic
• Tomorrow Ready

The School Social Worker will foster meaningful relationships, strengthen family engagement, reduce barriers to learning, improve attendance, and ensure every student has equitable access to the supports necessary to graduate prepared for success beyond high school.

Equal Opportunity Employer