What is a School Social Worker and what do they do?
What is a School Social Worker?
A trained and licensed mental health professional with a degree in social work and who is certified through the New York State Education Department.
What do School Social Workers do?
Provide evidence based education, behavior, and mental health services to students through individual counseling and group work
Promote a school climate and culture conducive to student learning and teaching excellence
Maximize access to school-based and community-based resources by reaching out to students and providing referrals to parents
Participate as members of the educational team for both special education and general education students
Facilitate transition from school to life
What is the purpose of individual counseling, group meetings, and classroom guidance?
To help students develop self-understanding and self-awareness
To build self-confidence and self-esteem
To encourage students to recognize and make the best use of their capabilities
To provide opportunities for students to feel successful
To give students an opportunity to talk about educational, social, and personal concerns
To encourage students to recognize, understand and work through learning difficulties
To help students acquire the social and communication skills necessary for productive interaction with teachers, peers, and family
To teach students a decision-making/ problem solving process
To teach students how to relax and cope when confronted with stress producing situations