Safety and Truancy Specialist

Safety and Truancy Specialist Job Description

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  Minimum Requirement: A high school diploma is typically the minimum requirement. Law Enforcement or Social Work Background preferred.
• Background Check and Fingerprint Clearance: All applicants recommended for employment with an Indiana school district are required to complete a criminal background check and a Department of Child Services (DCS) search.
• Tracking Attendance: responsible for monitoring student attendance records and identifying patterns of unexcused absences with each school. Collaborate with school administrators and personnel to address attendance issues and provide support to students and families.
• Communication Skills: strong written and verbal communication skills are crucial for interacting with students, parents, school staff, and other stakeholders.
• Problem-solving and Conflict Resolution: strong problem-solving and conflict-resolution abilities to address the complex issues that contribute to absenteeism.
• Knowledge of Laws and Regulations: a thorough understanding of local and state attendance laws and regulations is essential for fulfilling the role's responsibilities. Implementing Truancy Prevention Measures: Truancy officers implement measures outlined in Indiana Code 20-33-2.5 to prevent truancy, according to IN.gov..
• Organizational Skills: effective organizational skills are necessary for managing caseloads, maintaining accurate records, and collaborating with schools and community agencies.
• Reporting Habitual Truancy: in cases of habitual truancy (defined as 10 or more unexcused absences), truancy officers are required to report the student to the prosecuting attorney or the Department of Child Services (DCS).

Investigating Absences: they investigate the reasons behind a student's absence, which may involve contacting parents or guardians, or conducting home visits to assess the situation. Truancy officers deliver letters to homes from schools in reference to truancy records.

• Liaison to law enforcement and social services: they may represent the school district in truancy court hearings and provide information about the student's attendance history and the efforts made to improve attendance.
• Generating Reports: they are responsible for making reports as required by the State Board of Education.
• Assist school administrators with other school related concerns, to include field testing of confiscated vapes, substances and paraphernalia.
• Emergency Response: responding to emergencies, assisting in campus crisis management, and coordinating with external emergency response teams and law enforcement.
• Policy Enforcement: enforce school policies, regulations, and security plans to ensure a safe and orderly environment for students, staff, and visitors. Will assist in Behavioral Threat Assessment Management investigations.
• Training and Education: may develop and facilitate training programs for staff and students on safety awareness, emergency preparedness, and safe systems of work. Will be School Safety Specialist certified through Indiana Department of Education.

Required Skills and Knowledge

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  Communication Skills: Strong written and verbal communication is essential for working with students, parents, school staff, and community partners.
• Problem-Solving Skills: The ability to identify underlying issues and develop effective strategies to address them is crucial.
• Understanding of Policies: Knowledge of federal and state laws, Indiana board of education rules, and district policies related to student attendance is required.

Organizational Skills: The ability to manage caseloads, maintain detailed records, and meet reporting deadlines is important.