Community Support Specialist

Position Type:

High School Teaching/At-Risk

Date Posted:

2/11/2025

Location:

All Buildings

(High-Needs School)

Date Available:

08/13/2025

Closing Date:

02/21/2025

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TITLE: Community Support Specialist

DEPARTMENT: Assigned School Campus

REPORTS TO: Superintendent/Designee

RECEIVES GUIDANCE FROM: District Leadership

BASIC FUNCTION (BF1): The Community Support Specialist (CSS) bridges the gap between students, families, and the school by building relationships, connecting families to mental health resources, providing case management, and supporting staff in understanding families through a holistic and restorative approach.

SKILLS AND JOB FUNCTIONS (For all Fairfield Community Schools Positions SJF1-10):

For all Fairfield Community School District positions

Demonstrated experience or willing to acquire skills:

• Embraces and exhibits characteristics outlined in the Fairfield CSD Portrait of a Trojan.

• Exhibits dedication to the district's mission and vision, actively promoting its values.

• Demonstrates an ability to be adaptable and respond productively to setbacks.

• Exhibits discipline and flexibility with an ability to embrace diverse perspectives.

• Prioritizes active listening as a foundation for understanding others' perspectives, values, and attitudes.

• Exhibits ability to communicate effectively with diverse audiences.

• Demonstrates disciplined thinking that is clear, rational, open-minded, and informed by evidence.

• Exhibits critical-thinking skills and problem-solving ability.

• Exhibits commitment to collaborating with others.

• Demonstrates awareness, sensitivity, concern, and respect to connect with others' feelings, opinions, experiences, and culture.

HIRING SPECIFICATIONS:

Demonstrated experience or willingness to acquire skills:

• Attend district Learning Supports, Tier 2/3, and counselor meetings as designated by district leadership. Provide input on available services and supports for students facing mental health or trauma-related challenges.

• Identify students in need of support through the referral process and engage with families to assess needs using the District adopted matrix.

• Assist families in accessing community-based services, such as therapy, behavioral health intervention services (BHIS), housing, basic needs, medical care, and medication management.

• Facilitate referrals and provide hands-on support, including home visits, assisting with paperwork, contacting providers, and attending initial service meetings with families.

• Track referrals, monitor service engagement, and provide case management to help families work toward stability.

• Manage a caseload of up to 25 students and families, providing regular progress updates to school teams through Learning Supports/Tiered meetings.

• Attend home visits, appointments, and family meetings as needed to ensure participation in ongoing supportive services.

• Support students in social-emotional learning (SEL) and skill development through targeted instruction aligned with RTI plans.

• Assist in staff professional learning (PL) by facilitating building-level training on specific social-emotional and behavioral health (SEBH) topics.

• Offer classroom support, including student observations, consultation with teachers, leading community circles, and facilitating small group SEBH lessons (e.g., conflict resolution for student groups).

• Perform all duties required of the District Homeless Liaison

• Manage and staff our district Food Pantry and Hygiene Closet.

• Attend IEP meetings and attendance meetings for students/families on the caseload.

• Assist with the Highschool-Elementary mentorship program

• Facilitate connection between FCSD and regional institutions and resources.

ABILITIES:

This position will require physical demands that include constant standing, walking, reaching, pushing/pulling, lifting under 70 pounds, and carrying items at least 35 feet. There will be frequent climbing of stairs and manual dexterity tasks. There will be occasional sitting and vehicle driving. The working conditions will be constantly inside/outside with extremes of temperature and humidity.

KNOWLEDGE AND EDUCATION:

Required:

• Bachelor's degree in social work, counseling, psychology, education, or a related field preferred

Desired:

• Master's in social work, counseling, psychology, education, or a related field

• Experience in case management, mental health services, family support, or school-based interventions preferred.

POSITION INVENTORY: Classified

FLSA STATUS: Exempt

FT/PT: FT

All of the above duties and responsibilities are essential job skills and functions, subject to reasonable accommodation. All job requirements listed indicate the minimum level of knowledge, skills and/or ability to perform the job proficiently. This job description is not to be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities or requirements. Individuals

may be required to perform any other job-related instructions as requested by their supervisor, subject to reasonable accommodation.