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.

Michigan Medicine improves the health of patients, populations and communities through excellence in education, patient care, community service, research and technology development, and through leadership activities in Michigan, nationally and internationally.  Our mission is guided by our Strategic Principles and has three critical components; patient care, education and research that together enhance our contribution to society.

Michigan Medicine is one of the largest health care complexes in the world and has been the site of many groundbreaking medical and technological advancements since the opening of the U-M Medical School in 1850. Michigan Medicine is comprised of over 30,000 employees and our vision is to attract, inspire, and develop outstanding people in medicine, sciences, and healthcare to become one of the world’s most distinguished academic health systems.  In some way, great or small, every person here helps to advance this world-class institution. Work at Michigan Medicine and become a victor for the greater good.

What Benefits can you Look Forward to?

• Excellent medical, dental and vision coverage effective on your very first day
• 2:1 Match on retirement savings

• 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 as declaring what the specific duties and responsibilities of any particular position shall be. It is not intended to limit or in any way modify the right of any supervisor to assign, direct, and control the work of employees under his supervision. The use of a particular expression or illustration describing duties shall not be held to exclude other duties not mentioned that are of a similar kind or level of difficulty. 

• Master's degree in education or a related field
• Valid State of Michigan Teacher Certificate. Out of state candidates must have authorization for Provisional Temporary Teacher Employment.
• Minimum of three years of teaching experience. Hospital-based teaching experience preferred.
• Special education endorsement and/or experience in developing and implementing specialized learning plans including IEPs and 504 plans, etc. 
• Strong written and interpersonal communication skills. 
• Ability to work independently without direct supervision and as part of an interdisciplinary team.
• Demonstrated skills in family consultation. 
• Ability to analyze, compare, and evaluate various teaching methods to determine best practice based on patient's needs. 
• Knowledge and experience with PK-12 curriculum, including curricular adaptations and modifications and program development. 
• Demonstrated skills in family consultation. 

Positions that are eligible for hybrid or mobile/remote work mode are at the discretion of the hiring department. Work agreements are reviewed annually at a minimum and are subject to change at any time, and for any reason, throughout the course of employment. Learn more about the work modes.

This position is included in the bargaining unit represented by the United Michigan Medicine Allied Professionals (UMMAP), which represents bargaining unit members in all matters with respect to wages, benefits, hours, and other terms and conditions of employment.

Michigan Medicine conducts background screening and pre-employment drug testing on job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent job offer and may use a third party administrator to conduct background screenings.  Background screenings are performed in compliance with the Fair Credit Report Act. Pre-employment drug testing applies to all selected candidates, including new or additional faculty and staff appointments, as well as transfers from other U-M campuses.

Job openings are posted for a minimum of seven calendar days.  The review and selection process may begin as early as the eighth day after posting. This opening may be removed from posting boards and filled anytime after the minimum posting period has ended.

The University of Michigan is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.