Early Childhood Social Worker

POSITION SUMMARY:

The primary role of this position is to conduct comprehensive psychosocial assessments and collaborate with school personnel, families, and other professionals to address barriers to the educational success of at-risk children. The position requires coordinating resources and services that support children's cognitive, social, emotional, and language development. Responsibilities include observing children's behavior, identifying unmet needs, and designing interventions to foster emotional growth and academic success. Additionally, the role involves providing family support, facilitating Trauma-Informed Care practices, and maintaining accurate case documentation. This position will participate in multidisciplinary teams and community collaborations to ensure the well-being and academic progress of children.

COMPANY INFORMATION:

As a federally qualified health center (FQHC), we serve all people with quality healthcare, dignity, and respect. We envision a seamless healthcare delivery system that is proactively responsible for the medical, dental, and psychosocial needs of underserved individuals, children, and families residing in Kalamazoo County.

We advocate for the rights of all people to receive comprehensive healthcare through a collaborative community network focused on quality standards of care. Our aim is to decrease healthcare disparities by increasing access to care through culturally sensitive medical attention, education, and outreach. We work to reflect this simple motto: "Together, we are improving quality of life by providing excellent healthcare to all people in an environment of dignity & respect."

BENEFITS:

 • Full time clinicians of the Family Health Center have the opportunity to apply for up to $50,000 in loan repayment through the National Health Service Loan Repayment Program.
 • Highly competitive pay
 • Excellent (cost-effective) Health Insurance
 • Vision & Dental Insurance
 • Company-paid Life & Accidental Death Insurance
 • Company-paid Long Term Disability Insurance
 • Voluntary Life, Accidental Death, Short Term Disability, and other supplemental offerings
 • Pre-tax 403(b) retirement plan (Discretionary employer contribution based on FHC financial performance)
 • Generous Paid Time Off (PTO)
 • 8 Paid Holidays

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Conduct psychosocial assessments to determine unmet needs or barriers to educational success.
• Coordinate with school personnel to meet the social and emotional needs of at-risk children, minimizing barriers to their academic success.
• Work with families and school personnel to ensure assistance in finding needed resources.
• Arrange and coordinate services for families to facilitate children's cognitive, social, emotional, or language development. Observe children in classrooms, during home visits, and in 1:1 session to identify behavior patterns and barriers to success.
• Identify missing support for teachers or parents.
• Collaborate with other professionals to support children and families.
• Complete biopsychosocial assessments.
• Design and implement interventions to support children's emotional growth and academic success.
• Provide family support to address barriers to school attendance or success.
• Assist school personnel in identifying classroom strategies for challenging behaviors that interfere with academic opportunities.
• Complete objective assessments to determine functioning and necessary levels of support.
• Apply evidence-based practices in assessment, intervention, and clinical applications to support preschool-aged children and their families.
• Work closely with school personnel to ensure all of the children’s needs are met for educational success.
• Understand the role of Trauma-Informed Care and communicate with team members, school personnel, and family members about the impact of trauma on children’s well-being and potential concerns.
• Prepare case histories for diagnosis and treatment. Develop intervention and treatment plans that include an evaluation of family and community support, patient strengths, and risks.
• Make referrals for additional ancillary services as clinically appropriate.
• Maintain case documentation and records of delivered services in an accurate and timely manner as required by regulating entities, accreditation organizations, and management.
• Attend required in-service, departmental, and organizational meetings.
• Participate in clinical case reviews.
• Participate in community collaborations as needed.
• Work as a member of a multidisciplinary team.

TYPICAL PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel and must be able to communicate by talking or listening.
• The employee is frequently required to stand, walk, and sit. The employee is occasionally required to stoop and kneel.
• The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, peripheral vision, and the ability to adjust focus.

QUALIFICATIONS:
 

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills, and abilities required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE/CERTIFICATIONS/LICENSES:

• Master’s degree in a behavioral health field (Counseling Psychology, Social Work) and licensure required.
• Preferred Infant Mental Health Certification or willingness to obtain.

Family Health Center reserves the right to modify the job description's duties and functions based on the organization's needs.