Homeless and Foster Care Liaison Position Overview: The Homeless and Foster Care Liaison works with and advocates for students who are experiencing homelessness under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, who are in a court-ordered placement outside of their home (foster care), or who are participants in the US Dept of Justice’s “Safe at Home” program.
REACH Coordinator Position Overview: REACH stands for Resources, Education, Advocacy for Children experiencing Homelessness. The REACH Coordinator position works with high school students identified under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act and advocates for students’ rights and student-centered resources/practices.
Training and Licensure:
- Master’s Degree in Social Work
- Valid Wisconsin School Social Worker licensure
- Min. grade point average of 2.75 on a 4.0 grading scale in degree course work.
- Bilingual candidates (Spanish/English) strongly preferred.
Knowledge and Skill Qualifications:
- Interest and knowledge in youth homelessness and school systems.
- Knowledge of or ability to quickly learn and utilize the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, State and Federal Laws, and MCPASD policies.
- Knowledge of or ability to quickly learn about post-secondary programing options.
- Competence in working with a diverse group of students, including students of color and students experiencing homelessness.
- Skills in organization, problem-solving, planning, communication, and leadership with a variety of audiences.
- Ability to work independently and seek out/use available resources in decision making.
- Demonstrate the use of documentation, record keeping, technology, and maintaining records in a confidential manner.
Homeless and Foster Care Liaison Roles and Responsibilities:
- Identification and coordination of services for students and families in transition.
- Develop systems and strategies that ensure a smooth enrollment process
- Work collaboratively with the school social work team
- Implement data-driven strategies to address systems barriers and implement individual student plans.
- Connect families and community agencies (ex: housing, employment, shelter, food, mental health)
- Support school staff in order to meet the academic, social and emotional needs of identified students
- Provide school and community-based professional development regarding homelessness and poverty.
- Identify school, district and larger community barriers to learning and develop specific plans to address
- Identify, develop, facilitate, and implement staff development to multiple audiences
- Model advocacy and leadership within the district and community.
- Active participant and leader in district and community teams and committees
- Promote cultural competence, inclusive practices, and respect for diversity in interactions through leading by example and promoting additional learning opportunities and dialogues.
REACH Coordinator Responsibilities:
- Meet bi-weekly with high school students experiencing homelessness. (Utilizing evidence-based strategies to establish rapport, mentorship, monitor and evaluate student’s academic progress, discuss progress)
- Meet monthly with students regarding college and career planning. (College or job applications, financial aid paperwork, military applications; college or military visits as needed)
- Assist students in obtaining needed documents (ex: social security card, birth certification, state ID or driver’s license).
- Collaborate and meet monthly with school staff/teams; quarterly with Director of Student Services
- Bi-weekly check-ins with students and/or families to problem-solve around barriers to the student’s academic, social, and emotional success. (Ex: transportation services, referrals to community agencies, school support services.)
- Annually coordinate and deliver two workshops to students and/or families (ex: financial management, accessing financial aid, interviewing skills, resume writing)\
Organization: Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District
Job Location: Middleton, WI