Social Worker
Travis Hill Schools at the Juvenile Justice Intervention Center and Orleans Justice Center
The Travis Hill Schools provide students detained at the Orleans Justice Center (OJC) and the Juvenile Justice Intervention Center (JJIC) with a high-quality education, rooted in restorative, trauma-informed care, a curricular and instructional design that emphasizes relevance, meaning, and engagement, and an approach to learning-centered around relationships, trust, and mutual accountability. Travis Hill Schools also provide significant transition support for students when they return home by offering support with school placement and retention, workforce development, and ongoing, day-to-day case management.
The Travis Hill Schools are run by Travis Hill NOLA. Travis Hill NOLA is a nonprofit organization devoted to improving schools inside the juvenile and adult facilities in New Orleans. The first Travis School opened in August 2016 at the Youth Study Center (YSC), which was later named the Juvenile Justice Intervention Center (JJIC). In late August 2017, we opened the Travis Hill School at the Orleans Justice Center (OJC). Additional information about Travis Hill NOLA and the Travis Hill Schools is available at our website, https://www.travishillnola.org/.
The Opportunity
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Approximately 40 students are detained at the JJIC daily. They range in age from 11 to 18 years old. All students attend our school located inside of the JJIC. Nearly 1,500 individuals are held at the OJC. We operate a full-time school for approximately 70 students between 17 and 21 years old.
Nearly all the students have faced school failure--many did not attend school regularly when they were younger, most have been suspended or expelled at some point, nearly all of them are far behind their peers academically, and 30-40% of them have special education needs. Despite this, they all have hopes and dreams, skills and talents, and family and friends who care for them.
Our mission at Travis Hill is to create a transformative learning environment where students held at the JJIC or OJC develop the academic and socio-emotional skills they need to become positive, contributing members of their community when they are released.
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Position Description​
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The School Social Worker will serve as a key member of our Student Support Services team—providing individual sessions and group counseling with students, offering support and structure to schoolwide programming for all students, and serving as a liaison between the School and the OJC or JJIC staff on behavioral health matters. This will be an exhilarating and demanding job--one that requires a social worker who is fully committed to the students at the OJC or JJIC. We are looking for a social worker who takes the initiative, has good judgment and is grounded in doing what is right and just, who is self-reflective and isn’t afraid to ask for help. We are looking for someone who is creative and who works well with a wide range of people--including students, parents, teachers, and secure care staff.
The Social Worker will work with the Director of Special Education, ensuring that we provide counseling and related support for all students, including those with special needs, in line with our school’s values and in compliance with IDEA. This will include providing individual and group counseling. The social worker will also help develop school-wide practices that support a healthy school environment—this may include training and supporting teachers on trauma-informed care, restorative justice practices and social and emotional learning tools. This position reports to the Director of Social Services and Transition
For the right person, this is the perfect job.
Primary Responsibilities:
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Responsibilities will include but not be limited to:
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Working with the Director of Social Services and Transitions, Director of Special Education, and school staff to create and support school-wide practices designed to support high achievement, mutual accountability, and positive school culture--including a range of classroom and school-wide positive, incentive-based behavior management practices
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Providing individual and group counseling to the OJC or JJIC students, both those with special needs and others, as appropriate, and documents all clinical activity
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Writing annual IEP goals and notating monthly progress and advisory reports related to IEP goals
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Maintaining appropriate files and record keeping, particularly for students with mandated counseling as a part of their IEPs
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Collaborating with the Director of Social Services and Transitions to create individual goals and deliver targeted group counseling interventions
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Facilitating professional development and training opportunities for the school staff around trauma informed care, social and emotional learning and restorative practices
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Serving, along with the Director of Social Services and Transitions, as a liaison between the school and the OJC/JJIC secure care and behavioral health staff.
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Building positive relationships with students and families as well as key support networks.
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Supporting the “cool down” process in conjunction with the restorative practice coordinator
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Assisting and supporting scheduled parent meetings
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Performing other duties as assigned by the Director of Social Services and Transitions and the school site Principals
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Desirable Qualifications and Experience:
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A master’s degree in social work from an accredited college or university with LMSW or LCSW credential required by the state of Louisiana
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A minimum of two years’ experience working with displaced or at-risk youth in a case management/mental health professional role, preferably in a school-based setting
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An understanding of the “Individuals with Disabilities Education Act” and experience providing counseling designed to fit in a school setting, in line with IDEA
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Experience developing and implementing school or site-based strategies around social emotional learning, trauma informed teaching and restorative justice practices
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Embrace and nurture a school culture that requires all staff to work beyond the traditional school hours and school year to create an environment filled with hope and high expectations, where students will have the opportunity to improve their academic, and social, emotional learning.
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Possess an unrelenting belief that ALL students can achieve and succeed
Salary and Benefits:
Travis Hill NOLA offers staff a competitive salary and benefits package. Our salaries are on par with local schools and youth-serving nonprofit organizations, considering experience and skills. Travis Hill NOLA offers a Simple IRA plan for all staff and provides a 4% employer contribution once staff has worked for one year. Travis Hill NOLA provides health care coverage for all staff and covers approximately 80% of the monthly premiums and 50% for dependents of employees. This is a 12-month, full-time position. Vacation time is primarily aligned with the school calendar and works through the summer with agreed-to time off. Hours may vary from approximately 8:00am - 4:15pm with some evenings and weekends. ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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Travis Hill NOLA is an equal-opportunity employer. We believe that a diverse staff is better staff. Women and persons of color are encouraged to apply to work with us at the Travis Hill Schools. ​For additional information about Travis Hill NOLA, please visit our website at https://www.travishillnola.org/.