WHAT IS THE ROLE OF SCHOOL
SOCIAL
WORKERS?
School
Social Workers bring unique
professional knowledge, skills and perspective to the school system and
the
student intervention team.
School
Social Workers actively address
barriers within the child, home, school, and community that interfere
with
student achievement.
School
Social Workers serve as
catalysts to bring people together and to create an environment that is
conducive to effective problem solving and learning.
School
Social Work practice includes:
assessment, crisis intervention, home visits (if needed), conflict
resolution,
individual and group counseling, consultation, program development, and
coordination of school and community services.
WHAT
CAN
SCHOOL
SOCIAL WORKERS DO?
Help
students to:
- cope in times of crisis;
-
access mental health services;
-
become resilient, successful learners; and
-
gain personal and social competencies.
Support
parents to:
- effectively participate in their child’s education;
-
understand their child’s developmental and
educational needs;
-
access school and community resources;
-
understand special education services; and
-
strengthen parenting skills.
Assist
educators to:
-work effectively with parents;
-discover
new resources;
-participate
in the special education process;
-understand
family, cultural and community factors
affecting students; and
-meet
educational outcomes for students of diverse
backgrounds
Work
with administrators to:
-ensure compliance with special education laws; and
-implement
effective prevention programs and
policies that address:
school
attendance
alcohol
& other drug abuse
teen
pregnancy
violence
suicide
and sudden death
child
abuse and neglect
school
safety.
Link
schools and communities to:
- coordinate the delivery of educational and mental
health services; and
-
develop resources to adequately meet the needs of
students and families.