what do school social workers do?
School Social Work is a specialized area of practice within the broad field of the social work profession. School social workers are trained in mental health concerns, behavioral concerns, positive behavioral support, academic and classroom support, consultation with teachers, parents and administrators as well as with individual and group counseling techniques. School social workers bring unique knowledge and skills to the school system and the student support services team. They are instrumental in furthering the
purpose of the schools - to provide a setting for teaching, learning, and for the attainment of competence and confidence. School social workers are hired by school districts to enhance the district's ability to meet its academic mission, especially where home, school and community collaboration is the key to achieving that mission (http://www.sswaa.org).
Social work services in schools first began independently in New York City, Chicago, Boston, and Hartford during the school year of 1906-1907 to meet the social service needs of children and to improve communication between the home and school. The first board of education to initiate and finance a school social work program was in Rochester, New York, in 1913 (Shaffer, 2006).
During this century of school social work, school social workers have grown significantly in numbers and the focus of the service has changed in response to important influences of the times. A focus on school attendance in the early 1900's showed the need for professionals who understood the influences of living conditions, socioeconomic status, poor health, family and community on
academic performance, behavior, and attendance at school (Shaffer, 2006). The foremost responsibility of the school social worker at that time was home-school-community liaison. Although school social work has evolved considerably with the dynamic changes of society and school social workers function as change-agents more so than ever before, school social workers today continue to serve as the vital link between home, school and community.
School social workers are expected to apply their professional training in schools in order to support student success. Their capacity to influence student success is clearly influenced by school social worker-to-student ratios (No Child Left Behind recommends
one-masters-degreed-school-social-worker-to-800-students ratio; the School Social Work Association of America recommends one master's-degreed social worker per 400 students). Through specialized school social work programs that strengthen the home/school/community partnership and address barriers to student learning, school social workers serve as catalysts in promoting student well-being and successful completion of school.
Currently, ACES has three School Social Workers working across the cooperative. Jennifer McDowell, Debbie Griffith Fujinami and Lisa Christmas are each working in various districts to improve educational outcomes for students.
If you have a student that you feel would benefit from our services please visit with your school administrator and go to www.areacooperative.weebly.com to see which social worker is assigned to your school.
Why? Who? What?
WHY do today's schools need School Social Workers?
Children today are increasingly victims of many social forces that negatively affect their role as students.
The family is in a state of change and until it becomes stabilized, in whatever form, children's unmet physical and emotional needs will continue to interfere with their ability to learn and adjust in school.
WHO are School Social Workers?
ACES School Social Workers are trained mental health professionals with a Master’s degree in social work who provide services related to a person's social, emotional and life adjustment to school and/or society. School Social Workers are the link between
the home, school and community in providing direct as well as indirect services to students, families and school personnel to promote and support students' academic and social success.
WHAT are some of the specific services that School Social Workers provide?
RELATED SERVICES:
· Participating in special education assessment meetings as well as Individual Educational Planning meetings.
· Working with those problems in a child's living situation that affect the child’s adjustment in school. (home, school, and
community)
· Counseling (group, individual and/or family)
· Mobilizing family, school, and community resources to enable the child to learn as effectively as possible in his or her educational
program.
· Assisting in developing positive behavioral intervention strategies.
SERVICES TO STUDENTS:
· Providing crisis intervention.
· Developing intervention strategies to increase academic success.
· Assisting with conflict resolution and anger management.
· Helping the child develop appropriate social interaction skills.
- Identifying positive decision making skills and coping skills.
- Helping the child with their transition into adulthood.
- Assisting the child in understanding and accepting self and others.
- Helping the student handle daily stresses and regulate emotions.
SERVICES TO PARENTS/FAMILIES:
· Meeting with the family to assess problems affecting their child's education.
· Working with parents on their involvement and support for their child's educational success.
· Helping families identify stressors that are interfering with their child's school success.
· Assisting parents to access programs available to students with special needs.
· Assisting parents in accessing and utilizing school and community resources.
SERVICES TO SCHOOL PERSONNEL:
· Providing staff with essential information to better understand factors (cultural, societal, economic, familial, health, etc.) affecting
a student’s performance and behavior.
· Assessing students with mental health concerns.
· Developing staff in-service training programs.
· Assisting teachers with behavior management.
· Providing direct support to staff.
SCHOOL-COMMUNITY LIAISON:
· Obtaining and coordinating community resources to meet students' needs.
· Helping school districts receive adequate support from social and mental health agencies.
· Advocating for new and improved community/school service to meet the needs of students and families.
· Helping the system respond effectively to each child's needs.
purpose of the schools - to provide a setting for teaching, learning, and for the attainment of competence and confidence. School social workers are hired by school districts to enhance the district's ability to meet its academic mission, especially where home, school and community collaboration is the key to achieving that mission (http://www.sswaa.org).
Social work services in schools first began independently in New York City, Chicago, Boston, and Hartford during the school year of 1906-1907 to meet the social service needs of children and to improve communication between the home and school. The first board of education to initiate and finance a school social work program was in Rochester, New York, in 1913 (Shaffer, 2006).
During this century of school social work, school social workers have grown significantly in numbers and the focus of the service has changed in response to important influences of the times. A focus on school attendance in the early 1900's showed the need for professionals who understood the influences of living conditions, socioeconomic status, poor health, family and community on
academic performance, behavior, and attendance at school (Shaffer, 2006). The foremost responsibility of the school social worker at that time was home-school-community liaison. Although school social work has evolved considerably with the dynamic changes of society and school social workers function as change-agents more so than ever before, school social workers today continue to serve as the vital link between home, school and community.
School social workers are expected to apply their professional training in schools in order to support student success. Their capacity to influence student success is clearly influenced by school social worker-to-student ratios (No Child Left Behind recommends
one-masters-degreed-school-social-worker-to-800-students ratio; the School Social Work Association of America recommends one master's-degreed social worker per 400 students). Through specialized school social work programs that strengthen the home/school/community partnership and address barriers to student learning, school social workers serve as catalysts in promoting student well-being and successful completion of school.
Currently, ACES has three School Social Workers working across the cooperative. Jennifer McDowell, Debbie Griffith Fujinami and Lisa Christmas are each working in various districts to improve educational outcomes for students.
If you have a student that you feel would benefit from our services please visit with your school administrator and go to www.areacooperative.weebly.com to see which social worker is assigned to your school.
Why? Who? What?
WHY do today's schools need School Social Workers?
Children today are increasingly victims of many social forces that negatively affect their role as students.
The family is in a state of change and until it becomes stabilized, in whatever form, children's unmet physical and emotional needs will continue to interfere with their ability to learn and adjust in school.
WHO are School Social Workers?
ACES School Social Workers are trained mental health professionals with a Master’s degree in social work who provide services related to a person's social, emotional and life adjustment to school and/or society. School Social Workers are the link between
the home, school and community in providing direct as well as indirect services to students, families and school personnel to promote and support students' academic and social success.
WHAT are some of the specific services that School Social Workers provide?
RELATED SERVICES:
· Participating in special education assessment meetings as well as Individual Educational Planning meetings.
· Working with those problems in a child's living situation that affect the child’s adjustment in school. (home, school, and
community)
· Counseling (group, individual and/or family)
· Mobilizing family, school, and community resources to enable the child to learn as effectively as possible in his or her educational
program.
· Assisting in developing positive behavioral intervention strategies.
SERVICES TO STUDENTS:
· Providing crisis intervention.
· Developing intervention strategies to increase academic success.
· Assisting with conflict resolution and anger management.
· Helping the child develop appropriate social interaction skills.
- Identifying positive decision making skills and coping skills.
- Helping the child with their transition into adulthood.
- Assisting the child in understanding and accepting self and others.
- Helping the student handle daily stresses and regulate emotions.
SERVICES TO PARENTS/FAMILIES:
· Meeting with the family to assess problems affecting their child's education.
· Working with parents on their involvement and support for their child's educational success.
· Helping families identify stressors that are interfering with their child's school success.
· Assisting parents to access programs available to students with special needs.
· Assisting parents in accessing and utilizing school and community resources.
SERVICES TO SCHOOL PERSONNEL:
· Providing staff with essential information to better understand factors (cultural, societal, economic, familial, health, etc.) affecting
a student’s performance and behavior.
· Assessing students with mental health concerns.
· Developing staff in-service training programs.
· Assisting teachers with behavior management.
· Providing direct support to staff.
SCHOOL-COMMUNITY LIAISON:
· Obtaining and coordinating community resources to meet students' needs.
· Helping school districts receive adequate support from social and mental health agencies.
· Advocating for new and improved community/school service to meet the needs of students and families.
· Helping the system respond effectively to each child's needs.
