What are the responsibilities and job description for the SUCCESS Case Manager - Elementary position at Des Moines Public School District?
This is a split postion between elementary schools Wright and McKinley.
TITLE: SUCCESS Case Manager - Elementary
POSTION TYPE: PARA
HIRING SPECIFICATIONS:
Required:
1. Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, Social Services or related field.
2. Minimum of two years of successful work experience in social service programs which provide services to youth and families in their home and in the community.
Desired Education and Experience:
1. Master’s Degree in Human Service Related Field.
2. Successful work experience in programs that serve urban communities.
Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities:
1. Ability to work collaboratively with representatives of social service agencies, schools, and advisory committees and have a knowledge of community resources.
2. Ability to provide social services within the structure of Des Moines Public Schools.
3. Completion of Des Moines Public School’s training for child abuse reporting and other required training.
4. Commitment to help program youth and their families identify their strengths.
5. Ability to tolerate ambiguity and possess a high degree of empathy.
6. Orientation to continuous problem solving and positive life outlook.
7. Commitment to assist families and youth to identify, confront, and reduce the conditions which place them at risk of dropping out of school.
8. Patience and understanding in communicating with persons to be served.
9. Ability to advocate for families in accessing needed resources.
10. Ability to function as a member of a multi-disciplinary team, working cooperatively with both school and agency staff.
11. Experience in planning, organizing, implementing, and monitoring service delivery.
12. Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing.
13. Ability to understand, interact, and communicate effectively with people in all cultures.
14. Ability to assist individuals in identifying and prioritizing needs to develop plans for reaching their goals.
15. Ability to provide transportation of clients when needed and possess a valid driver’s license.
BASIC FUNCTION:
Provide intensive coordination of services to families and youth who demonstrate risk factors for dropping out of school which include: poor attendance, lack of identification to school, poor or failing grades, and low achievement scores. Provide short term responsive services to identified students and families as needed. Improve outcomes for youth in the areas of education, health, graduation, employment, and productive citizenship. Facilitate the delivery of services in an easily accessible manner. Connect youth and families to social service providers, facilitate collaborative planning, and ensure that coordinated services are provided which match assessed needs. Build meaningful partnerships between families, schools, and the community leading to improved student learning. Strengthen the relationship between the school and the community. Serve as the point of contact for all systems involved and internally identified groups of students. This position requires continuous use of independent judgment. The essential functions as shown below represent only the key areas of responsibility; specific position requirements will vary depending on the needs of the learning services department.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
1. Provide coordination of support services to youth and their families.
2. Assess the needs of youth and their families and consider strengths and weaknesses when developing a plan to accomplish their goals.
3. Meet with families in their homes and other locations that are convenient to the family.
4. Participate as an active member of the school staff and regularly attend support team meetings and other similar meetings within the building for the purpose of communication and service coordination.
5. Participate in building faculty meetings, parent/teacher conferences, in-service activities, and serve on school committees where appropriate.
6. Provide on-going communication to school and agency staff regarding caseload and client status.
7. Maintain confidentiality of all program services in both written and verbal communications.
8. Connect youth and their families to the services available to meet their needs.
9. Coordinate and provide access to foundational needs services and other resources for students and families (food pantry, clothing closet, etc.).
10. Assist youth and their families in overcoming barriers to utilizing services.
11. Monitor continuously the services provided to and progress made by youth and their families.
12. Serve as the school point of contact for students/families experiencing homelessness.
13. Serve as the school point of contact for migrant students, as identified by the DOE.
14. Serve as the school point of contact for all system involved students (DHHS, ESP, Ellipsis, etc.).
15. Serve as the school point of contact for Handle with Care.
16. Serve as the school point of contact for human trafficking concerns.
17. Complete safety risk/suicide assessments for students.
18. Conduct wellness checks for students who have not been in school for an extended period of time.
19. Coordinate and file all Level 1 and Level 2 truancy court cases.
20. Maintain a caseload consistent with program requirements.
21. Maintain accurate records and complete required reports.
22. Provide transportation for students and families receiving Success services when appropriate.
23. Increase presence of community partners at school buildings and coordinate community partner activities/ schedules.
24. Establish partnerships with local businesses to promote their involvement in the school.
25. Collaborate with school teams in the identified feeder pattern around all aspects of student transitions, including incoming Kindergarten and 5th-6th grade transition, ensuring families are engaged and students are connected to their peers and school activities.
ADDITIONAL ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS (for every DMPS position):
- Attend work on a prompt and regular basis.
- Maintain confidentiality.
- Maintain satisfactory and harmonious working relationships with the public, students, and other employees.
- Assist with other duties as may be assigned.
DEPARTMENT: Student and Family Services
REPORTS TO: SUCCESS Support Specialist
RECEIVES GUIDANCE FROM: Building Principal, Administrator of Alternative Programs
EVALUATES: N/A
BARGAINING GROUP: DMEA ESP
FLSA STATUS: Exempt
FT/PT: Full time
DAYS: 260 HOURS: 7.75 hours per day
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
Frequent standing, walking, sitting, climbing stairs, driving.
Occasional bending, stooping, reaching, pushing, pulling, lifitng (20lbs), carrying (100ft).
WORKING CONDITIONS:
Frequent inside
Occasional outside extremes of teperature/humidity
All of the above duties and responsibilities are essential job 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.
Employee Benefits Information
All candidates offered a position will be required to successfully pass a criminal background check, and a child and adult abuse registry check. Certain positions may require fingerprinting, a drug and alcohol test, a physical capacity test and/or a motor vehicle record check.
Approved By: DF
Date: 08/2025
Salary : $44,431 - $64,036
