The learning specialist serves as the liaison between patients and their families, the medical community, and schools working collaboratively to provide the services and support needed for our patients to participate and make progress in their education, reducing future educational concerns due to medical challenges, providing access to educational opportunities during treatment, and maintaining engagement in age and grade typical routines. Learning specialists work to bridge medical challenges identifying learning needs and communicating information in a way that can be translated to school staff for the development of effective and efficient learning plans and transitions back to school. Our learning specialists do this through risk/needs assessments, partnership, advocacy, and practice.
The University of Michigan Health's Hospital School Program at C.S. Mott Children's Hospital is seeking one full time (40-hours/week) certified to promote culturally responsive and community partnerships connecting patients, caregivers, and medical team(s) to the school community. This role will support children ages pre-school - college within the University of Michigan Congenital Heart Center (CHC) with additional supervision provided to Book Babies program; the CHC's read-a-loud program for infants ages zero to 12 months of age.
With administrative oversight from the Child & Family Life Department, this learning specialist additionally receives general supervision from identified administrative staff within the University of Michigan Health Congenital Heart Center.
- Maintain reasonable and appropriate safeguards for protecting patient information.
- Facilitate communication between the medical team and school community, ensuring efficient and coordinated school re-entry planning for academic success and medical needs.
- Provide school personnel with information about diagnosis and treatment, including implications on learning and support for classmates using age-appropriate information.
- Collaborate with patient's family and school personnel to create plans that maintain access to class assignments and academic progress while prioritizing time required for medical treatment.
- Assist patient, family and school personnel with recommendations for learning plans (IEP/504, etc.) and/or homebound services.
- Assist patient and family with access to educational/vocational services, collegiate disability services, college scholarships/GED programs, etc.
- Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams to contribute to and further develop the network of educational services and resources.
- Complete and maintain electronic documentation.
- Oversee, coordinate, train, and supervise volunteers.
- Provide formal and informal staff development opportunities describing hospital school services to interdisciplinary team members and learners.
- Represent the CFL Department and clinical area on hospital wide committees, initiatives, and donor/community partnerships.
- Participate in CFL and CHC department meetings and relevant team meetings and trainings.
- Maintain and order school supplies.
- Remain abreast of current developments in the hospital school services and participate in professional development to enhance clinical knowledge and skills. Professional involvement in with the Hospital and Academic Liaison (HEAL) Association highly encouraged.
- Participate in research or quality improvement opportunities when applicable.
- Work with C.S. Mott Children's Hospital Development department, community and donors to secure and maintain philanthropic support for hospital school services. Serve as a financial steward by implementing cost effective programming.
- Assist with Child & Family Life department events and needs as needed.
- Adhere to Child & Family Life team norms.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
SUPERVISION RECEIVED:
General supervision is received from the Administrative Director, Child & Family Life.
SUPERVISION EXCERCISED:
Functional supervision may be exercised over students, interns, and volunteers.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
This position requires frequent standing/walking, as well as lifting, positioning, pushing, and/or transferring of patients.
This description is intended to indicate the kinds of tasks and levels of work difficulty that will be required of positions that will be given this title and shall not be construed
