"What do School Social Workers DO?"

School Social Work is a professional specialty that focuses on connecting schools, families and the community.  School Social Workers use a holistic perspective relating to student's environments and resiliency.  They focus on providing supports for students and families that foster school success.  School Social Workers address a variety of issues including truancy, family conflict, abuse and neglect, substance abuse, teen pregnancy, mental health issues and crisis intervention.  For many students and families, school social workers are vital in navigating the bureaucracy of school systems and accessing social resources that foster an environment conducive to student success.

Specific duties of school social workers vary throughout the state.  Job responsibilities may include:

• Consultation and collaboration with community organizations and professionals
• Crisis intervention and prevention
• Assessment of student needs through observation, home visits, interviews and testing
• Individual and group counseling services
• Referrals to community agencies for students and families
• Development and implementation of prevention programs that improve school climate
• Advocacy for students
• Professional consultation to school staff regarding effective strategies for working with at-risk students
• Address barriers within the child, home, school, and community that interfere with student achievement.
• Investigate, prevent and enforce truancy issues.
• Assist eligibility committees and School Based Intervention Teams in multidisciplinary reviews of individual student needs.
• Conducts sociological assessments for students suspected of having a disability.