Company Description

About KIPP New Jersey

KIPP New Jersey is part of the nationally recognized “Knowledge Is Power Program” network of free, open-enrollment, college-preparatory public schools dedicated to preparing students for success in college and in life. In 2002, KIPP New Jersey first opened its doors in Newark’s South Ward as a single class of 80 fifth graders and has since grown to educate 7,035 students in grades K-12 across 15 schools in Newark and Camden. More than 90% of KIPP New Jersey students currently qualify for free or reduced meals. To learn more, visit www.kippnj.org.

Job Description

Here’s what you need to know:

KIPP New Jersey’s KIPP Forward team is looking for a part - time social worker to support KIPP NJ alumni who are unenrolled as well as enrolled in college and CTE programs. As a KIPP Forward Social Worker, you will be responsible for a caseload of primarily first-generation students and will work to support their social emotional needs as they pursue their degree or certification. This position will collaborate and partner with our Alumni Counseling team to implement a holistic social-emotional advising model that will empower alumni as they progress through their post-secondary journeys towards a strong career launch. Our candidate must have the ability to be within driving distance to the cities we serve (Newark & Camden) to support emergency alumni needs as they arise.

Delivery of Social and Emotional Support

Crisis Response (including potential of management of intern to support this work) – 40%

• Offer support to KIPP New Jersey alumni who are in crisis (i.e. houselessness, suicide ideation, domestic abuse)
• Provide direct clinical counseling support for students in crisis and/or connect them to appropriate external partner
• Support families of alumni in crisis if needed to assist them with their therapeutic needs
• Offer crisis management after traumatic events within the community (i.e. death of a student, staff member etc.)
• Manage and provide oversight to clinical intern, if SIFI Certified
  
  

Alumni Assessments - 20%

• Provide support via 1:1 intakes for KIPP New Jersey alumni to support re-enrollment into a post-secondary program and their overall Career Launch. Intake meetings should be scheduled within 1 week of notification so as not to delay any advancement towards successful reenrollment
• Execute detailed contact notes within 24 hours summarizing intake conversations into the Alumni Database (Salesforce)
  
  

Mental Health Partnership Development, Maintenance & Communication (including intern partnerships) – 20%

• Develop formal and informal partnerships for alumni to engage with telehealth therapy and psychiatric care, as well as crisis intervention support.
• Maintain and regularly update our mental health focused “KIPP Forward Resource Hub” that documents local resources for Camden & Newark; update bi-annually
• Send social work newsletters aimed at building coping tools (frequency to be determined)
• Oversee, maintain and further develop formal mental health partnerships
  
  

Training Development and Facilitation – 20%

• Train advisors to identify common mental health indicators in 18-24 year olds
• Train and support advisors through the processes of addressing both mental health and crisis situations, including case management record-keeping and maintaining confidentiality; build and annually update such processes within a section of the “Mental Health, Crisis Intervention and Social Services Guidebook”
• Provide training for KIPP Forward advisors throughout the academic year in response to specific team needs related to mental health advisement (i.e. Summer training, Compassion Fatigue)
• Provide consultation support to KIPP Forward advisors and their managers regarding mental health and well-being issues that arise with alumni
• As job descriptions cannot be exhaustive, the position holder may be required to undertake other duties that are broadly in line with the above essential duties and responsibilities.
  
  

Qualifications

Skills:

• Student Focus: Belief that all students, regardless of background, have the ability to go to and through college
• Achievement Orientation: Demonstrated student achievement results in clinical practice
• Cultural Competence: Demonstrated ability to create inclusive environments that honors and supports a diversity of backgrounds and perspectives
• Counseling Leadership: Adept at data analysis and strong clinical content knowledge; ability to extract meaningful insights and actions from data
• Using pertinent software applications.
• Preparing and maintaining accurate data records.
• Operating standard office equipment.
• Extensive knowledge of Excel, Word, Google Docs
  
  

Abilities:

• Strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills
• Solutions oriented and strong organizational skills
• Ability to use computer to input student data.
• Ability to effectively plan, organize and implement clinical curriculum and activities.
• Ability to maintain professionalism and maintain emotional constancy.
• Ability to be within driving distance to the cities we serve (Newark & Camden) to support emergency alumni needs as they arise. When emergency needs arise, the KIPP Forward Social Worker may be called on to support the alumni in person within a matter of hours. There is a need for both proximity and flexibility in this role.
  
  

Must Haves:

• LSW (NJ Licensed Social Worker) or LAC (NJ Licensed Associate Counselor)
• New Jersey School Social Work Certification or New Jersey School Counselor Certification
• SIFI certified or interest in obtaining certification
  
  

Additional Information

KIPP NJ offers competitive salaries to newly hired staff members. Salaries are based on prior experience and in accordance with certification requirements.

Our organization is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, gender, age, religion, national origin, citizen status, marital status, physical or mental disability, military or veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Our organization will make a reasonable accommodation to known physical or mental limitations of a qualified applicant or employee with a disability unless the accommodation would impose an undue hardship on the operation of the organization. No questions on this application are asked for any unlawful purpose.