Job Responsibilities:

• Supports coordination between hospital and patients' community school to ensure the patient receives appropriate educational services in the community school district. Assists with discharge planning process of patients from prolonged hospitalization or treatment to transition back to community school. Confers with St. Jude staff to understand patient's overall medical, cognitive, and academic needs. Assesses the educational acuity and level of service needs for each patient and plans individualized school advocacy support in collaboration with St. Jude staff, patient/family, and school personnel. Documents activity in the medical record.
• Serves as a resource on regulations and accommodations for patients with various disabilities in the education system. Uses knowledge of learning disabilities, special remediation, accommodation techniques, Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 to advocate for the service needs of patients. Maintains working knowledge of current advocacy strategies and changes in regulations and policies.
• Attends individual school meetings in local community schools, via phone, or virtually. Operates a motor vehicle to travel to schools within the Mid-South area to meet with school personnel to develop an individualized academic plan to meet the academic needs of patients. Finds and uses community resources as needed including resources in the patient's home community.
• Increases awareness of the educational impact of diagnosis and treatment. Provides educational presentations to teachers, administrators, counselors, and nurses in school systems. Provides schools with appropriate disease educational literature.
• Works to develop ideas and opportunities to advance quality improvement. Participates in QI studies to help identify strengths of programs and find areas for improvement. Consults with experts in the field to help develop and implement program evaluation instruments and evaluate results. Helps generate questions and projects through periodic review and discussion of programs. Attends educational conferences to maintain current knowledge. Participates in St. Jude committees or focus groups as assigned by manager/director.
• Performs other related duties as assigned or directed to meet the goals and objectives of the department and the institution.
• Maintains regular attendance.

Minimum Education and/or Training:

• Bachelor's degree required from a regionally accredited institution in one of the following - Education, Special Education, School Counseling, School Psychology or Social Work is required.
• Master's degree preferred.

Minimum Experience:

• Three (3) years of instruction experience, experience as a school psychologist, school social worker teaching and developing educational programs for students with disabilities or experience as a professional educational advocate for children with disabilities is required.
• Experience working with/writing IEPs and 504 Plans is strongly preferred.
• Experience advocating for students with special needs is preferred.

Licensure, Registration and/or Certification Required by SJCRH Only:

• One of the following is required: (LC: TEACH-TN, TEACH-MS or TEACH-AR) Current State of Tennessee, Mississippi or Arkansas Teaching License or an Apprentice Special Group License as a School Guidance Counselor or School Psychologist
• OR
• Licensure as a School Services Personnel through a state's Department of Education
• OR
• (C-SSWS) Certified School Social Work Specialist through the National Association of Social Workers (NASW)
• OR
• Tennessee Licensed Master's Social Work (LMSW) or Licensed Advanced Practice Social Worker (LAPSW) through the Tennessee Department of Health.
• (LC: DLD-TN or DLD-ARK or DLD-MISS) Must have a valid driver's license from the employee's state of residence and a valid personal insurance policy on the vehicle which meets the requirements for the state of Tennessee is required.
• Special education endorsement is preferred.

Physical Demands and Working Conditions:

• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand; walk; sit; kneel, use hands to finger, handle, or feel; and talk or hear. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus.
• The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
• An essential function of the job is to be able to comply with all applicable federal, state and local safety and health regulations that would apply to this job.

Compensation

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Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital has a diverse, global patient population and workforce, built on the principles of diversity, equity and inclusion. Our founder Danny Thomas envisioned a hospital that would treat children of the world-regardless of race, religion or a family's ability to pay. Learn more about our history and commitment.

Today, we continue the mission to advance cures and means of prevention for pediatric catastrophic diseases through research and treatment. As we accelerate this progress globally, we believe our legacy of diversity, equity and inclusion is foundational to success. With the commitment of leaders at all levels of the organization, we strive to ensure the St. Jude culture, leadership approaches and talent processes are equitable and culturally responsive. View our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Report to learn about the hospital's roots in diversity, equity and inclusion, where we are today and our aspirations for an even better future.

No Search Firms

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital does not accept unsolicited assistance from search firms for employment opportunities. Please do not call or email. All resumes submitted by search firms to any employee or other representative at St. Jude via email, the internet or in any form and/or method without a valid written search agreement in place and approved by HR will result in no fee being paid in the event the candidate is hired by St. Jude.