School Social Worker (Certified Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor)

Job Title: School Social Worker (Certified Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor) 

Full-Time, 10 Month Position, Role Level 2 

Reports To: Director of Student Success

Supervisory Responsibilities: No

Who We Are:

YouthBuild Philadelphia Charter School is a tuition-free, public charter high school, with a singular focus on supporting youth aged 17-20 who have been pushed out of traditional schools. During our 1-year alternative program, YouthBuild facilitates a warm, loving culture that uses a variety of structures to build community, such as a restorative-justice approach to discipline, weekly community meetings, and school-wide service projects. Students are empowered to attain their high school diploma and vocational certifications, while receiving unconditional support by the staff around them. At YouthBuild, we work intentionally to disrupt the cycle of poverty and support our students to achieve post-secondary success (4-year college, 2-year college, vocational training program, or liveable wage job). Visit https://www.youthbuildphilly.org/ to learn more.

The Opportunity:

As the school social worker, you have unique training to help our young people with social-emotional challenges that impact youth development and post-secondary success. You will utilize your leadership, advocacy, and collaborative skills to provide preventative services and respond to student’s social and emotional needs so barriers to student success can be removed while providing the academic and career development of students within the educational setting. You will do this through participation in the school counseling program, delivering small-group counseling, and providing appraisal and advice directed at improving a student's social-emotional well-being. You will promote a positive, culturally responsive, restorative justice environment that enhances students’ ability to properly manage the social-emotional demands of their lives.

Who You Are:

You are/have…

• Invested in our core values - Respect, Excellence and Perseverance.
• Equity-focused and believe that all students can achieve. 
• Passionate about community service and civic engagement.
• Excited to mentor students and support them throughout their time at YouthBuild and beyond.
• Collaborative and dedicated to personal and professional development.
• Master of Social Work degree from an accredited college or university and a LSW or LCSW.
• PA Department of Education’s School Social Worker certificate (CSPG 20), strongly preferred.
• Pennsylvania Certified Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CAADC), Certified Associate Addictions Counselor (CAAC), or other recognized Pennsylvania drug and alcohol counseling certification strongly preferred.
• Three to five years’ experience in school social work (preferred) and/or case-management, utilizing appropriate principles and techniques.
• Extensive knowledge of local services, supports and community resources available to Philadelphia Youth.
• Ability to operate in a fast-paced, highly flexible work—often highly intense—work environment.
• Strong commitment to helping young adults succeed in reorienting their lives, nurturing their leadership skills, and enabling them to make a difference in their community.

What you’ll Do:

You will…

Student Counseling & Mental Health Services

• Provide individual counseling services to students experiencing social-emotional, behavioral, academic, family, or mental health challenges.
• Facilitate individual and group counseling sessions to address students’ social, emotional and behavioral concerns and provide group guidance and social skills activities for students related to topics such as self-awareness, bullying prevention, reproductive health, and social awareness for a caseload of students
• Provide crisis intervention and crisis counseling services for students experiencing mental health, behavioral, substance use, family, or social service emergencies.
• Serve as the lead support provider for students experiencing substance use concerns, including assessment, intervention, referral, monitoring, and coordination with external treatment providers.
• Maintain accurate and confidential records, case notes, reports, and documentation related to student services and interventions.

Student Support & Intervention Systems

• Serve as an active member of the Student Assistance Program (SAP) Team, supporting the identification, intervention, referral, and monitoring of students experiencing behavioral health, substance use, mental health, attendance, and other barriers to success.
• Collaborate with school teams to implement Tier I, Tier II, and Tier III social-emotional, behavioral, attendance, and mental health interventions.
• Partner with advisors, teachers, administrators, and support staff to develop and implement comprehensive intervention plans for students experiencing significant barriers to success.
• Provide consultation and recommendations regarding behavior management, de-escalation, and intervention strategies that support student success and classroom learning.

Family & Community Engagement

• Establish and maintain collaborative relationships with families to support student well-being, attendance, engagement, and successful school participation.
• Conduct home visits and community-based outreach as necessary to assess and address barriers impacting student success.
• Connect students and families to appropriate community resources and support services, including mental health, housing, healthcare, food assistance, transportation, childcare, and other basic needs supports.
• Facilitate referrals to external agencies and monitor service utilization and effectiveness.
• Facilitate mandated reporting responsibilities, including supporting mandated reporting requirements and coordinating communication with Pennsylvania's Department of Human Services and related agencies.
• Facilitate student and family support groups and resource workshops as needed.

Special Education Support

• Participate as a member of the IEP Team and contribute to the development, implementation, and monitoring of student support plans.
• Collaborate with special education staff, related service providers, and families to address students' social-emotional, behavioral, attendance, and mental health needs.
• Provide behavioral, social-emotional, and mental health insights to support student success within special education programming.

School-Wide Culture, Prevention & Wellness

• Design and facilitate school-wide social-emotional learning (SEL), wellness, prevention, and mental health awareness initiatives.
• Support the implementation of restorative practices and contribute to creating a safe, inclusive, trauma-informed, and supportive school culture.
• Serve as a champion for trauma-informed practices by helping staff understand and respond effectively to the impact of trauma on student learning, behavior, and engagement.
• Provide professional development, consultation, and coaching to staff regarding trauma-informed practices, mental health awareness, de-escalation strategies, behavior support, and student wellness.
• Collaborate with school leaders and staff to identify and address school-wide social-emotional, behavioral, attendance, and mental health trends.
• Contribute to the development and implementation of programs that strengthen student belonging, resilience, engagement, and persistence.

Other Responsibilities

• Perform other duties as assigned by the Director of Student Success.

What We Offer You:

• Generous time off
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance 
• Flexible spending accounts
• 401(k) savings plan with an employer match
• Employer paid parental leave, life insurance, short-term disability and long-term disability 
• Educational assistance and professional development opportunities to enhance skills and career growth
• Supportive and collaborative work environment
• Strong community support and involvement

Salary Range:

New YouthBuild Coordinator level staff can expect a starting salary of between $60,000 - $70,000 based on years of experience, education, and certifications, if applicable.

During the application process, applicants will have the opportunity to discuss our employee total rewards package and additional benefits.

This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by this employee. 

All qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to their race, religion, ancestry, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, marital status, medical condition, veteran status, or any other basis as protected by federal, state, or local law.