What do School Social Workers Do?
School social workers help STUDENTS:
· achieve maximum benefit from their educational opportunities
· understand themselves and others
· improve interpersonal relationships
· cope with stress
· develop decision making skills
School social workers help PARENTS:
· participate effectively in their children's education
· understand and meet their children's social and emotional needs
· understand programs available to students with special needs
· utilize school and community resources effectively
School social workers help
SCHOOLS:
· understand factors (cultural, societal, economic, familial, health, etc.) that affect students' abilities to make maximum use of their school experience
· utilize their resources in meeting the educational, social, and emotional needs of students
· promote a safe school environment
School Social Workers 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
· Group Work: students may meet in a group to work toward common goals. Groups may be geared toward counseling, support, or skill-building.
· Individual Counseling: a student may meet with a social worker one on one to address problems causing distress or disruption to the learning process.
· 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 regard social emotional issues that may interfere with academics.
· Referrals: a school social worker may make referrals to students and families for various community resources.