Attendance Resource Coordinator

Be a part of the change...

Across the country, approximately 1 in 5 children under 18 live in poverty. These are disproportionately children of color who already struggle with issues of access and equity. Without community support, they are more at risk for missing school, dropping out and failing to earn a high school diploma. By helping our most vulnerable students stay in school and succeed in life, Communities In Schools is building stronger, healthier and more economically stable communities where every person is capable of reaching his or her greatest potential.

Our Solution

Working directly in 2,300 schools in 25 states and the District of Columbia, Communities In Schools builds relationships that empower students to stay in school and succeed in life. We are seeking motivated change leaders to join our DC affiliate, Communities in Schools of the Nation's Capital, where you'll join a dynamic team seeking to close the opportunity gap for DC Public School students. Working directly in 10 DC Public Schools, our Site Coordinators work alongside teachers and school leadership to identify challenges students face in class or at home and coordinate with community partners to bring outside resources inside schools. From immediate needs like food or clothing to more complex ones like counseling or emotional support, CIS does whatever it takes to help students succeed.

JOB SUMMARY

The Attendance Resource Coordinator is responsible for providing school-wide wrap-around, drop-out prevention and intervention plans including case management and related services, at an assigned school in the District of Columbia. Responsibilities include delivery of overall planning and managing of Communities In Schools operations at the assigned school, and the implementation of the Communities In Schools model of integrated student services with Tier 1, 2 and 3 supports. The Attendance Resource Coordinator partners with school leadership and members of the CIS team, to ensure alignment of the CIS school support plan with the school’s strategic vision, and the incorporation of leaders’ knowledge and expertise. In addition, the Attendance Resource Coordinator supports the local office by participating in office events, providing input to budgets, and submitting required documentation. This full-time position reports to the Program Director. All Site and Attendance Resource Coordinators case manage 10% of the school population. The successful candidates will have recent experience working directly with students, a history of tackling challenges independently with quick action and creative solutions while working effectively in a team and school setting.

ESSENTIAL JOB COMPONENTS

Student Support and Case Management Services

• Conduct thorough needs assessment at assigned school, and collaborate with school staff to prioritize student needs.
• Annually develop a School Support plan focusing on identified student needs, risk factors, and assets. The plan will include measurable objectives, as well as procedures for delivering school-wide services, targeted and sustained interventions and services, the monitoring and adjustment of services, and the evaluation and reporting of progress and outcomes.
• Serve on school-wide teams to support the plans for specific students, including plan development, monitoring, review and evaluation.
• Coordinate and manage student referrals from staff throughout the building, and target additional students, as appropriate and/or necessary.
• Develop a caseload of students who will be connected with Tier 2 and 3 supports as needed. Provide case management and coordinate delivery of Tier 2 and 3 supports, engaging in the following best practices:
• Assessment
• Case plan development (SMART goals)
• Individual consultations
• Classroom push-ins
• Home contacts
• Review of current services
• Referrals and linkages
• Communication with key parties (stakeholders)
• Meeting facilitation
• Progress monitoring
• Documentation
• Develop and implement Tier I supports, focusing on prevention, enrichment and support for school culture and climate.
• Develop partnerships with neighborhood organizations, local faith-based entities, businesses and corporations to support the school support plan and the Tier I, II and III supports.
• Support and coordinate robust programming for students during out of school time.
• Model and utilize best practices for family engagement to increase parent involvement and connectivity, and to foster a broad sense of school community.

Data Collection/Evaluation - Administration

• Ensure that all case management and other student support activities are documented.
• Ensure that student case files and digital records (in CISDM, the CIS Data Management System) are updated weekly.
• Gather, enter and analyze student and family data for ongoing individual and programmatic evaluations.
• Provide requested student data at specified times to internal and external stakeholders, including funders and District and other monitoring agencies.
• Follow local office procedures for ordering supplies and reporting expenses.
• Monitor the implementation of the school’s annual school support plan, particularly as it

relates to students, and provide monthly reports to Principal and the Director of Programs and Data.

Relationship-Building

• Provide regular feedback to school staff, school administration, the CIS leadership and other resource agencies involved in collaborative services.
• Create and distribute program updates, newsletters or other appropriate communication vehicles about student and program needs/accomplishments to volunteers and community partners.
• Present the CIS mission, vision and initiatives within the community. Provide networking opportunities for volunteers and community partners. Provide leadership in securing community resources beneficial to improving students’ academic, emotional and physical needs.
• Work with members of the city-wide CIS team to share resources, best practices, and expertise.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Passion for working with and on the behalf of students
• Bachelor’s degree (master’s degree preferred) in social work, education, school counseling, public health or related field.
• Minimum of two years’ experience with case management
• Ability to establish and maintain working relationships with co-workers and the public
• Knowledge of child-serving systems (child welfare, mental health, criminal justice, parks and recreation)
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Ability to manage multiple projects
• Experience developing and evaluating programs
• Excellent leadership and interpersonal skills
• Experience working with, or for, DCPS is preferred
• Experience with data management systems and data tracking
• Excellent computer skills
• Passion for working with students and schools

COMPETENCIES

• Understanding of youth development principles and provision of youth support services
• Ability to develop strong relationships with partners and school staff
• Ability to react quickly and adapt to changing situations
• Understanding of informational needs of decision makers at various levels: schools, leadership and board of directors
• Ability to respond to the needs of students and to meet those needs using measures that are appropriate and understandable.
• Ability to organize and prioritize effectively
• Ability to make decisions based on sound logic and evidence and to deal effectively with uncertain situations
• Ability to manage change with minimal disruption; be an agent for positive change. Flexibility and the ability to encourage flexibility in other members of the organization.
• Dedication to continuous improvement
• Commitment to be an advocate/ambassador for the organization

Benefits include health, dental and vision insurance (with nominal employee contribution) and Simple IRA.