Schools Interested in Partnering
Transform your school support system with the School-Based Family Services Program
Enhance the support systems for students and their families at your school by partnering with Oklahoma Human Services. When you welcome a School-Based Family Specialist into your community, you actively bridge the gap between home and school environments. This partnership creates a supportive atmosphere to address the diverse needs of students outside the classroom, paving the way for their success within it.
The application window for this school year is now open. Please note that priority will be given to schools with a higher number of at-risk students, including those with significant free and reduced lunch rates. Take the next steps to add a School-Based Family Specialist to your team and make a difference today!
For questions, email DHS.SchoolBasedServices@okdhs.org.
Invest in Your Student's Future
Start the process by clicking the button below and filling out the school interest form.
Review and approve the partnership contract that we’ll send over, then sign it to make things official.
Schedule a meeting with us to understand your school’s needs and how we can support you.
Advertise the specialist position, review applications, and conduct interviews with our team’s guidance.
Work together with us to welcome and train the specialist you’ve chosen.
Meet with our representative twice each school year to discuss how things are going and make any needed adjustments.If interested in receiving more information about the program, contract, or application process please contact us at DHS.SchoolbasedServices@okdhs.org
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Testimonials
The school and Oklahoma Human Services share in the total cost of the School-Based Family Specialist (SBFS). We will provide the federal dollar share of the cost. The recommended salary of the SBFS is $39,571 gross per year; the total cost with SSA/UE/workers’ comp, insurance benefits, computer, travel, and phone is $73,732 per employee. OKDHS will provide 80% of the total cost of the employee.
The school is expected to provide office space, basic furniture (chair, desk, etc.), and access to a telephone. The school will also provide a computer and cell phone.
The SBFS is on the school district’s payroll. The school district will invoice Oklahoma Human Services at the end of each quarter for the cost of the employee. Work assignments and work hours may vary in accordance with the unique needs of the school environment.
Yes. The first contract can begin any time during the year but will end at the end of the fiscal year (June 30th). After that, the contract needs to be completed for an entire year.
The SBFS may be selected through an interview conducted by representatives from the school and Oklahoma Human Services. The ideal candidate will have experience or equivalent (training and/or education) in both the school and our agency. The SBFS is viewed as a hybrid social worker or liaison. The school district is responsible for processing and posting all positions.
Yes. The number of schools depends on the agreement between Oklahoma Human Service and the school. However, the increased workload may affect the quality of services.
The SBFS works with the school’s students and their families, providing social services and, if needed, assisting with applications for Sooner Select, TANF, and SNAP benefits. The SBFS also acts as a resource for the school and Oklahoma Human Services. The SBFS may participate in team conferences regarding families’ and children’s needs with teachers, counselors, school administrators, and advocates within the confines of school confidentiality. The SBFS is readily accessible to students and their families during periods requiring intervention.
This is a unique partnership that promotes school success and connects families with community services and resources, positively impacting difficult situations that may affect students’ ability to succeed in the classroom, allowing teachers to focus on teaching and students to focus on learning.
The school district will retain the overall supervisory responsibility for the SBFS but with appropriate input from a designated Oklahoma Human Service preceptor/official. Both parties should have monthly contact for feedback on program outcomes. The agency preceptor/official will monitor the contract and site visits.
We recommends that the employee be engaged in the summer. The contract will state whether the employee will be a 10-, 11-, or 12-month employee; this will be up to the school district. The SBSF can follow up with students and families already identified as at-risk during the school year and develop student programs. Some participate in summer school and food nutrition programs. It is also a good time
“OKDHS's School-Based Program is a tremendous investment in our students and their families. The service our worker provides is invaluable. She is able to link the needed resources and support to the right people, and she accomplishes it all with the compassion you want in that position. The return on investment is so promising that we will give serious consideration to adding another specialist moving forward.”- Brent Houston, Assistant Superintendent of Finance/Business Operations- Shawnee Public Schools
“Wagoner Public Schools has maintained an exceptional partnership with OKDHS for School-Based Specialists for almost two decades. We were ecstatic to renew that partnership and welcome a School-Based Specialist for secondary level schools with the return of the program this school year. Our students receive essential support from a knowledgeable, compassionate, highly trained professional through this program. We are a Title 1 School and depend upon our School-Based Specialist to assist our students in meeting their basic needs.”-Ginger Luna, MSW, LCSWJunior/Senior Counselor- Wagoner High School.
