School Social Workers are professionals who are trained in both social worker and education. They work within the student's home, school, and community to resolve problems that interfere with adjustment to school, achievement, or attendance. They also serve as children and family advocates trained to identify gaps in service systems and to negotiate change. They work with individual students, families and groups, as well as in collaboration with other educational and community professionals.
School Social Workers help families and children to solve problems that interfere with school success! Problems may include:
Mental Health Issues
Poverty
Developmental Disabilities
Health issues
Substance Abuse
Domestic Violence
Attendance/Drop-out
Pregnancy/Teen Parenting
Delinquency
Homelessness
Abuse and Neglect
Trauma
Grief and Loss
Learning Difficulties
Suicidal Tendencies
Cultural Issues
How Can School Social Workers Help?
School Social Workers Help Students...
School Social Workers Help Families...
Increase academic success
Cope with crisis situations
Resolve conflicts without violence
Improve attendance
Develop self-discipline
Build self-discipline
Develop healthy lifestyles
Improve interpersonal relationships
Remain in school and graduate
Participate more fully in their children's education, through parent conferences, school, and home visits
Develop realistic expectations and ways of caring for their children which are age and developmentally appropriate
Identify and meet their children's social and emotional needs
Monitor their child's homework and attendance
School Social Workers Help Educators...
School Social Workers Assist the Exceptional Children's Program...
Understand better how factors such as family, culture, socioeconomic status, physical and metal health can affect a student's performance
Develop and implement plans to enhance a student's performance
Coordinate services for individual families
Identify and report child abuse and neglect
Obtain community resources to meet student's needs
Design and implement behavior management plans
Prepare social and developmental histories
Provide group and individual counseling to children and their families
Mobilize school and community resources to optimize a student's potential to learn
Work with problems in a student's living situations (home, school, and community) that affect school adjustment
