What do School Social Workers Do?

Help STUDENTS:

• achieve maximum benefit from their educational opportunities
• understand themselves and others
• improve interpersonal relationships
• cope with stress
• develop decision making skills

Help PARENTS:

• participate effectively in their children's education
• understand and meet their children's social and emotional needs
• understand programs available for children with special needs
• utilize school and community resources effectively

Help SCHOOLS:

• understand factors (cultural, societal, economic, familial, health, etc.) that affect students' abilities to make effective use of their school experience
• utilize their resources in meeting the educational, social, and emotional needs of students
• promote a safe school environment

Help COMMUNITIES: 

• understand school policies, programs and practices
• minimize those environmental factors which inhibit learning
• develop resources to adequately meet the needs of students and families

Specific Services Offered:

• Individual Counseling: a student may meet with a social worker one on one to address problems causing distress or disruption in school.

• Group Work: students may meet in a group to work toward common goals. Groups may be geared toward counseling, support, or skill-building.

• Crisis Intervention: a social worker may intervene in a crisis with individual students or the school as a whole.

• School and Community Education: classroom, staff development, and parent/community presentations.

• Case Consultation: consult with staff and students regarding social and emotional issues that may interfere with academics.

• Referrals: a school social worker may make referrals to students and families for various community resources.