Dorchester County Public Schools is currently accepting applications for a Community School Liaison. This position is a school-based position whose primary responsibility is to coordinate strategic partners and services for children and families. The Community School Liaison is responsible for the implementation, integration, alignment, and coordination of the community school strategy through relationship building and linking community resources to the school. The Community Schools Liaison, in partnership with the school administration and Student Services division, will work to develop strategies and resources aimed at improving attendance, reducing behavior incidents, promoting family community engagement, and increasing student achievement. This position aligns all community-based resources, programs, and services to support student and family needs. ***This position is grant funded.***

DUTIES:

• Develops, implements, monitors, and ensures compliance with the community school strategy in accordance with current legislation, state guidance, and DCPS requirements.
• Conducts needs assessment involving multiple stakeholders to identify student and community needs and priorities.
• Facilitates on-going stakeholder advisory groups to inform development of community school plan.
• Develops clear, data-driven annual community school plan for the coordination and delivery of services for students and families.
• Creates detailed timelines for each initiative, tracks and assesses project progress, fosters implementation of initiatives, monitors accountability of strategic partners to ensure deadlines are met and resolves complex issues that may arise.
• Assesses the needs of the school, students, families, and community.
• Creates and foster partnerships on behalf of the community school.
• Engages with families and the community through responsive, professional, two-way communication.
• Works collaboratively with school administration to establish and maintain ongoing relationships with community organizations, community members, and businesses to increase their involvement and support for students and their families.
• Identifies resources in the community that addresses the needs of families within the school community, and communicates directly with families about those resources, as needed.
• Develops events and activities based on topics relevant to school and student learning.
• Participates in school-based teams or community organizations that target attendance, intervention, or other needs of students and families.
• Collaborates with the MSDE CSC director and attend regularly scheduled meetings.
• Supports all efforts associated with Community Schools initiatives related to the Maryland State Department of Education, Concentration of Poverty Grant Program.
• Reacts to change productively.
• Performs other duties as assigned by the Supervisor of Mental Health Services or Director of Student Services.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Eligible for and hold, prior to appointment, the Maryland State Department of Education Certification for School Social Worker in accordance with COMAR 13A.12.03.11 (Graduate social worker; Certified social worker; or Certified social worker — clinical).
• Master’s Degree in Social Work.
• Three (3) years’ experience as Social Worker, preferred.

• Ability to communicate and collaborate with internal and external stakeholders and maintain effective working relationships with various levels of government, non-profit and community-based organizations, and the schools.
• Advanced familiarity of various computer applications and software is essential.
• Understanding of professional ethics and behavior.
• Self-motivated with the ability to work independently, as well as part of a team.
• Understands and respects the diversity of families’ economic, linguistic, and cultural backgrounds and situations and demonstrates a high degree of cultural awareness and competency in cross-cultural practice with stakeholders.
• Available to work a flexible schedule that includes evenings and some Saturdays.
• Demonstrated effective and accurate written and oral communication skills.