School Social Work is a specialized practice area within the profession of social work. School social workers work with teachers, administrators, counselors, school psychologists, speech pathologists and other staff. School social workers attempt to integrate information from these sources with the student's overall social, emotional, behavioral and adaptive functioning in school, at home and within the community to develop a whole child focus.
School social workers main objective is early identification and prevention of problems within the school setting. School social workers use assessment, counseling, consultation and coordination of services to provide unique services to students, parents, school and the community.
School Social Workers Help Students and Parents
School Social Workers help students:
- Receive maximum benefit from their educational opportunities
- Understand themselves and others
- Improve relationships
- Build their self-esteem
- Cope with stress
- Develop self-discipline
- Learn problem solving skills
- Learn social skills
- Actively and effectively participate in their children's education
- Communicate clearly relative to decisions, procedures and meetings affecting their child.
- Identify and meet their children's social and emotional needs.
- Understand programs available to students with special needs.
- Utilize school and community resources effectively.
Help School and Communities
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.
- Collaborate with community resources.
School Social Workers help communities:
- Understand school policies, programs and practices.
- Minimize those environmental factors, which inhibit learning.
- Develop resources that adequately meet the needs of students and families.
- Fail to complete school work
- Show a lack of concern with appearance/apathy
- Excessive shyness
- Aggressiveness or impulsiveness
- Frequent physical complaints
- Poor peer/adult relationships
- Irregular school attendance
- Depression
- Suicidal verbalizations/gestures
- Need for community social services
At Aurelian Springs we use a Multitiered System of support for behavior, emotions, and academics. Teachers complete a universal screener 3 times a year on their students which identifies students that may show no risk, some risk and at risk for externalizing and internalizing behaviors. Along with classroom behavior data and documentation of suspensions students are Tiered on the need of support. Children that fall in the red (at-risk) may receive school social work services either individually or in small group based on the need of the student. The intervention may be skill specific and short term or longer term based on the need. Consultation with the teacher may also be done along with behavior intervention plans and daily behavior sheets. If you have any questions about this you can call or e-mail me!