Job Description

General Description:
The Care and Safety Associate works collaboratively with the Director, Safety and Security and school-based leadership to cultivate and maintain a safe and loving school culture using both trauma and restorative lens. Additionally, the Care and Safety Associate serves as a mentor to students in need of additional social emotional support and works to engage parents and families as partners, in alignment with the Division’s priorities.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Works proactively to build authentic relationships with students, families, school based staff and other stakeholders that is centered around safety and support
• Supports the implementation of tiered supports for students struggling to meet behavioral expectations, including participation in alternatives to out-of-school suspensions
• Models and implements trauma informed and restorative strategies such as conflict resolution, mediations, de-escalation including engaging students in conversations about peaceful resolution to conflict, and the importance of using social-emotional skills to resolve conflict
• Leads community and healing circles with students to support their social and emotional development
• Works collaboratively with school based staff including school administrators to identify and address safety concerns
• Supports the implementation of the Student Code of Responsible Ethics (SCORE)
• Conducts home visits with school staff to support student attendance efforts
• Adheres to the State requirements for the Safe Schools Assessment, planning and reporting
• Serves as a member of both school based threat assessment teams and school culture and climate teams
• Assists in breaking up physical altercations (when necessary) between students and using appropriate measures to keep them safe during the duration of a physical conflict
• Renders First Aid when appropriate
• Prepares incident reports
• Performs other duties as assigned

Qualifications:

• High school diploma or its equivalent required
• Completion of two years of college courses or an associate’s degree from an accredited institution in social work, political science, criminology/criminal justice or related courses preferred
• Three years of recent, successful experience in juvenile justice, law enforcement, or social services, preferably with juveniles, or any combination of education and related experience preferred
• Maintains state certification as established by the DCJS
• Maintain certification in Division-approved restraint training
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with students, families, school leaders and staff
• Authentic, effective, and professional verbal and written communication 
• Strong problem-solving abilities
• Ability to adapt to changing priorities and situations and have the ability operate effectively in a team environment
• Bilingual skills with proficiency/fluency in Spanish preferred