Mental Health & Wellness Lead Social Worker

Cardozo Education Campus is seeking a passionate and dedicated Mental Health & Wellness Lead Social Worker to play a pivotal role in fostering a positive and supportive school climate. This is a unique, non-traditional social work position that will serve as the central point of contact and lead for all aspects of mental health and wellness initiatives across the school. The Mental Health & Wellness Lead Social Worker will not be assigned to a specific grade level or carry an IEP caseload but will instead focus on system-level support, coordination, and the implementation of comprehensive mental health services for the entire school community. This role requires strong leadership, organizational, and collaborative skills, as well as a deep understanding of adolescent development, mental health best practices, and community resources.

Responsibilities:

• 504 Coordinator:
• Case manage over 30 active 504 plans, ensuring timely implementation and documentation of accommodations and supports.
• Provide direct behavior support services to students as prescribed in their 504 plans.
• Facilitate initial 504 plan referral meetings, collaborating with parents, teachers, and administrators.
• Coordinate closely with the Assistant Principal of Special Education regarding students being referred for special education evaluations.
• School Behavior Health Coordinator/Wellness Team Chair:
• Facilitate bi-weekly meetings of the school's Mental Health/Wellness Team, fostering collaboration and shared responsibility for student well-being.
• Serve as the primary liaison between Cardozo Education Campus and external mental health partners, ensuring effective communication and service coordination.
• Coordinate internal mental health referrals and ensure students are connected with appropriate school-based and community-based services.
• Lead and develop the school's Youth Mental Health Ambassador program, empowering students to promote mental health awareness and support among their peers.
• Homeless Liaison:
• Collaborate with the school registrar to identify students experiencing homelessness.
• Serve as the primary point of contact with the DCPS central office team for homeless services, ensuring that over 100 identified students and their families receive necessary resources and support.
• MTSS POC for Behaviors/SEL:
• Actively participate in MTSS leadership meetings, contributing a social-emotional and behavioral health perspective to the development of tiered interventions and supports.
• Collaborate in the creation and implementation of school-wide and targeted behavior and Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) plans within the MTSS framework.
• Crisis Lead:
• Serve as the primary point person and coordinator for school-based crisis response, including situations involving community violence, student suicidal ideation, and other mental health emergencies.
• Provide direct support and intervention during crises, and coordinate follow-up care and resources.
• Professional Development Facilitator:
• Develop and facilitate engaging professional development sessions for school staff on various mental health topics, promoting awareness, understanding, and effective intervention strategies.
• Culture & Climate Team Support:
• Actively participate in and support the school's Culture & Climate Team initiatives aimed at fostering a positive, inclusive, and supportive school environment.
• Re-entry Support:
• Attend and provide social-emotional and behavioral health perspectives during student re-entry meetings following suspensions or other significant absences.
• Behavior Plan Centralization:
• Develop and maintain a system for centralizing student behavior plans, ensuring consistency and effective communication across staff.
• Therapeutic Room Support:
• Collaborate in the creation, implementation, and ongoing support of a designated "therapeutic room" within the school, providing a safe and supportive space for students in need.
• New Program Facilitation:
• Assist in the planning, development, and implementation of new school-wide programs focused on student well-being, such as peer mediation and staff/student mentoring initiatives.
• Grant Support:
• Collaborate with school leadership and relevant staff in identifying and applying for grants that support mental health and wellness initiatives within the school.

Qualifications:

• Master's degree in Social Work (MSW) from an accredited institution.
• Possession of a valid and active Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) or Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) license in the District of Columbia.
• Minimum of three (3) years of experience providing social work services in a school setting, preferably with experience in mental health and crisis intervention.
• Demonstrated knowledge of 504 plans, MTSS framework, SEL programming, and trauma-informed practices.
• Experience in developing and facilitating professional development for adults.
• Strong understanding of community-based mental health resources and the ability to effectively collaborate with external partners.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Experience working with diverse student populations and a commitment to equity and inclusion.
• Familiarity with DCPS policies and procedures is a plus.

To Apply:

Interested candidates are invited to submit a resume and cover letter outlining their qualifications and experience to Marie-Elena.Bucciero@k12.dc.gov

Cardozo Education Campus is an equal opportunity employer and values diversity at all levels of its organization. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status.