School Social Work Coordinator

About PLN

Founded on Skid Row in 1980, Para Los Niños (PLN) partners with more than 10,000 children, youth, and families each year through integrated education, wellness supports and advocacy, addressing individual and systemic barriers to create pathways to success. In addition to operating early education centers, charter elementary and middle schools, youth workforce development sites and family services, PLN is the only children's mental health provider in the Skid Row neighborhood. PLNs community transformation work brings together community members, community-based organizations, city and county agencies, elected officials, and businesses to tackle issues that impact PLN families. Ninety-three percent of families served by PLN live in areas with the highest levels of food insecurity and homelessness in L.A. County.

Position Overview

The School Social Work Coordinator provides leadership, coordination, and oversight of school-based social work services across charter school and after-school programs. The Coordinator supports the implementation of comprehensive social-emotional wellness, mental health, attendance, and student support services while ensuring compliance with educational, clinical, and regulatory requirements.

This position oversees the School Social Work internship program, provides supervision and consultation to trainees and staff, collaborates with school and organizational leaders to strengthen multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS), and maintains a limited direct service caseload to support students with intensive social-emotional and mental health needs. The Coordinator serves as a key liaison between schools, families, community partners, and internal stakeholders to advance student well-being, engagement, and academic success.

Duties

• Supports the delivery of school-based social work services, social-emotional wellness initiatives, crisis response efforts, attendance interventions, and multi-tiered systems of support across assigned programs and school sites.
• Oversees the School Social Work internship program, including recruitment, selection, onboarding, training, supervision, evaluation, and professional development of trainees and interns.
• Provides individual and group supervision, mentorship, consultation, and performance feedback to trainees while maintaining collaborative relationships with university partners and ensuring compliance with academic and program requirements.
• Monitors caseloads, service delivery, documentation, and program outcomes to ensure quality, consistency, and compliance with organizational, clinical, educational, and funding requirements.
• Collaborates with school administrators, MTSS teams, Special Education staff, Clinical Services, and other stakeholders to develop, implement, and evaluate interventions that support student well-being, engagement, attendance, and academic success.
• Provides consultation, guidance, and training to school personnel regarding social-emotional wellness, trauma-informed practices, crisis response, mandated reporting, and student support strategies.
• Maintains a limited caseload of students requiring intensive social-emotional, behavioral, mental health, crisis intervention, and special education-related services.
• Conducts assessments, risk assessments, crisis intervention, family meetings, counseling, case management, and coordination of services as needed.
• Supports the provision and coordination of Educationally Related Mental Health Services (ERMHS/ERICS) and other specialized interventions in accordance with student plans and applicable regulations.
• Collaborates with families, school staff, community agencies, and external providers to facilitate access to services, strengthen support systems, and address barriers impacting student success.
• Ensures timely, accurate, and compliant documentation, reporting, record maintenance, and data collection in accordance with organizational, legal, regulatory, and funding requirements.
• Prepares reports, correspondence, and documentation related to student services and collaborates with external agencies, including child welfare, mental health, probation, and community-based organizations.
• Maintains current knowledge of applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations, ethical standards, and best practices related to mental health, child welfare, special education, confidentiality, mandated reporting, and student rights.
• Supports program evaluation, grant-related activities, continuous improvement initiatives, and strategic planning efforts that strengthen school-based mental health and wellness services.
• Fosters collaborative partnerships with families, community agencies, universities, and service providers to enhance access to resources and supports for students and families.
• Participates in leadership meetings, case consultations, professional development activities, and other organizational initiatives as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, and Other Characteristics

• Masters degree in social work, marriage and family therapy, school counseling or a closely related field is required.
• Currently registered and in good standing with the California Board of Behavioral Sciences as an Associate Clinical Social Worker (ACSW), Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (AMFT), or Associate Professional Clinical Counselor (APCC) is required.
• Current and unrestricted California licensure as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), or Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC), issued and maintained in good standing by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS), is preferred.
• Valid California Pupil Personnel Services (PPS) Credential with Child Welfare and Attendance (CWA) authorization in good standing, issued by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC), is required.
• Minimum of 4 years of experience in a public, charter and/or private school setting.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective collaborative relationships with students, families, school personnel, community agencies, and external providers while demonstrating strong communication, consultation, facilitation, and interpersonal skills.
• Knowledge of child and adolescent development, trauma-informed practices, crisis intervention techniques, mandated reporting requirements, and school-based mental health and behavioral support strategies.
• Knowledge of the Individualized Education Program (IEP) process, Special Education programs, and applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations related to student services, school proficiency standards, confidentiality, and student rights.
• Strong written and oral communication skills in English and Spanish are required, and we celebrate linguistic diversity, valuing the unique perspectives and strengths that multilingual team members bring to our organization.
• Travel Requirements: Up to 15% within Los Angeles County and requires a valid drivers license, personal vehicle, and automobile insurance.

Physical Requirements

To perform this job the individual must be able to carry out all essential functions satisfactorily.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individual with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.

• Approximately 50% of time is spent sitting, while frequently required to walk, stand and bend.
• Must be able to speak and hear well.
• Good vision is imperative.
• Occasionally required to stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl.
• Employee will be required to lift and/or move up to 25 pounds without assistance.
• TB test clearance to be renewed every two years.
• Verification of Immunizations required by the California Department of Health (Pertussis, Measles and Influenza).

This job description does not encompass all essential functions and responsibilities. Para Los Niños reserves the right to modify or add to the typical duties of a position at any time.

Expectations for All Para Los Niños Staff

Candidates for employment at Para Los Niños, regardless of position, will consistently demonstrate the following:

• Unwavering belief in and commitment to fulfill the mission of Para Los Niños.
• Deep commitment to the success of all PLN students and families.
• Commitment to excellence and high standards -- for self, students, and colleagues.
• Continuous learning by engaging in reflection, self-assessment, and individual professional development.
• Use of data to inform decisions and drive continuous improvement.
• Ability to thrive as a member of a collaborative team.
• Self-motivation and initiative with solutions-oriented disposition.
• Belief in and ability to develop respectful relationships with families and children informed by the students' cultural and socioeconomic characteristics.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to effectively handle challenging situations.
• Comfort with basic Microsoft Office applications and a curiosity and propensity to push own adoption of new technology and approaches.
• Regular, punctual attendance and professional appearance.

Para Los Niños is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer

It is the established policy of Para Los Niños (PLN) to provide equal employment and advancement opportunities to all qualified applicants and employees without discrimination with regard to race, religious belief (including dress or grooming practices), color, sex, sex stereotype, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions (including breast feeding), age, national origin (including possessing a driver's license issued under Vehicle Code § 12801.9), ancestry, sexual orientation, gender identification and expression, transgender status, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic characteristics, genetic information, family care, marital status, enrollment in any public assistance program, status as military, a veteran or qualified disabled veteran, status as an unpaid intern or volunteer, or any other classification protected by law. PLN also prohibits discrimination based on the perception that anyone has any of those characteristics or is associated with a person who has or is perceived as having any of those characteristics.