School Social Worker – Low Incidence Autism Program (K-12)

Location: Mundelein, IL area
Schedule: Full-time, 8:00 AM – 3:30 PM (30-min unpaid lunch)
Pay: Up to $60/hour, based on experience
Caseload: Age-band assignment (team splits caseload by grade range)

About the Program

This is a public therapeutic day school serving K-12 students who require a highly structured, low student-to-staff ratio environment due to more significant and complex support needs associated with autism spectrum disorder. Students may be nonverbal or minimally verbal, use AAC devices, and require individualized behavioral, sensory, and communication supports embedded throughout the school day. The program emphasizes functional life skills, social-emotional regulation, and communication development alongside modified academics.

You'll join a team of social workers across the district's programs, including one other social worker already based at this building, and collaborate daily with special education teachers, BCBAs, speech-language pathologists, occupational therapists, and paraprofessionals.

What You'll Do

• Provide individual and small-group counseling focused on social-emotional regulation, coping skills, and communication
• Support implementation of behavior intervention plans (BIPs) in coordination with BCBAs and classroom staff
• Conduct social-emotional and functional behavior assessments; write and monitor IEP social work goals
• Serve as case manager for an assigned age-band caseload; lead/participate in IEP meetings
• Partner with families to support carryover of skills at home; maintain regular parent communication
• Respond to crisis/de-escalation situations using trained protocols (CPI or equivalent)
• Collaborate with related service providers as part of a wraparound team model
• Maintain documentation in compliance with state special education and Medicaid billing requirements (as applicable)

Requirements

• Master's degree in Social Work (MSW)
• Illinois Professional Educator License (PEL) with School Support Personnel endorsement in School Social Work
• Experience with autism spectrum disorder, low-incidence disabilities, and/or significant behavioral needs strongly preferred
• Experience with AAC systems, visual supports, or structured teaching methods a plus
• Crisis intervention/de-escalation certification (CPI, Non-Violent Crisis Intervention, or similar) preferred; training provided if not current
• Strong collaboration skills — this role works closely with a full multidisciplinary team daily

Why This Role

• Small, dedicated team environment with low ratios and strong clinical support
• Age-band caseload model (not spread thin across all grade levels)
• School-year calendar, no weekends
• Direct-hire, full-time with benefits