Homeless Liaison

Overview

Pending approval of the SY26 CFA by TDOE and HCS Board.

The purpose of this job is to ensure district compliance with the federal McKinney-Vento law by carrying out services to homeless children and youth. The liaison coordinates and enhances communication between the Department of Student Services, parents of homeless students, the Department of Federal Programs, and the Tennessee Department of Education.

Responsibilities

• Acts in a professional, respectful, and welcoming manner at all times.
• Creates a customer-focused climate and provides quality services and support to parents/guardians, students, schools and other stakeholders.
• Provides coordination of services between the schools and agencies to meet the various needs of students and their families.
• Provides information to parents or guardians regarding their children’s rights as homeless individuals and the resources available.
• Develops grant application for the Title IX McKinney-Vento funds and oversees the administration of the grant and the Title I homeless set aside funds.
• Develops Community partnerships to address the needs of homeless children and youth and represents Hamilton County Schools at community meetings, advisory councils and task forces related to education, housing, and homelessness.
• Generates reports on a regular and ad hoc basis for the purposes of evaluation and for sharing data with all stakeholders.
• Works with relevant district office personnel, school staff and community partners to develop, implement and support programs for homeless children and youth.
• Facilitates on-going communication with all stakeholders to ensure compliance with federal, state, and local laws, regulations, and guidelines.
• Attends all relevant and mandated professional development to support students experiencing homelessness.
• Conducts annual training for all schools (public and charter) and appropriate district staff and community partners to ensure compliance with the McKinney-Vento law.
• Conducts regular audits of student management system data and EIS reports to ensure accuracy of identified students and the input of correct coding.
• Prepares, maintains, and presents appropriate documentation that demonstrates compliance for the district and state. Ensures that documentation is available upon request by the appropriate district and state personnel and during annual programmatic and fiscal monitoring.
• Coordinates and collaborates with relevant district and school personnel to ensure the implementation of procedures that address the identification, enrollment, and retention of students experiencing homelessness.
• Utilizes Education of Homeless Children and Youth (EHCY) data to create measurable goals to improve the performance of the homeless program and individual homeless students.
• Confers regularly with teachers, counselors, principals, and other staff to identify students at risk of dropping out, and students with problems of truancy
• Maintains database with up-to-date information on students being served and services provided.
• Complies with all district and campus procedures, regulations, and policies.
• Serves as an effective liaison with various social agencies to which students may be referred.
• Travels, when necessary, during school hours and provides immediate service to pupils.
• Makes home visits or community contacts when necessary to provide appropriate intervention.
• Maintains good public relations and diplomacy whenever entering the home of a student.
• Submits a written report to the supervisor on a monthly basis, or as requested by the supervisor, concerning student referrals, investigations, and outcome of each.
• Communicates through the proper channels to keep supervisor and other appropriate personnel informed of impending problems or events of unusual nature.
• Follows established procedures to ensure assigned areas are safe.
• Works collaboratively with all stakeholders.
• Attends work and arrives to work on time.
• Maintains confidentiality.
• Adheres to the Teacher Code of Ethics as defined by Tennessee Law.
• Uses computers and other technology to enter and access information related to essential job functions.
• Performs general/clerical tasks, which may include answering telephone calls, typing documents, making copies, sending/receiving faxes, filing documentation, or processing incoming/outgoing mail.
• May operate a motor vehicle to conduct various work activities.
• Travels to schools and student residence as needed.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Knowledge/Education/Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree with course work in education, guidance, social services or criminal justice required. Five (5) years of relevant experience with prevention or intervention programs involving students. Or, any equivalent combination of education, training, and experience, which provides the requisite knowledge, skills, and abilities for this job.

Skills/Qualifications:

• Demonstrates excellent verbal and written communication skills to explain resources and options to parents/guardians, students, and school administrators/staff.
• Ability to build positive relationships with agencies at the federal, state, local, and school level.
• Ability to gather information and assess situations to determine the most effective way to assist parents/guardians, students, and school administrators/staff.
• Maintains up-to-date knowledge of laws regarding education of homeless students.

Compensation:
Salary is based on a combination of relevant education and experience.

Grade H