About School Social Work and ESDs
What is a School Social Worker?
School social work is a specialized area of practice within the broad field of the social work profession.
School social workers bring unique knowledge and skills to the school system and the student services team.
School Social Workers are trained mental health professionals who can assist with mental health concerns, behavioral concerns, positive behavioral support, academic, and classroom support, consultation with teachers, parents, and administrators as well as provide individual and group counseling/therapy.
School social workers are instrumental in furthering the mission of the schools which is to provide a setting for teaching, learning, and for the attainment of competence and confidence.
School social workers are hired by school districts to enhance the district's ability to meet its academic mission, especially where home, school and community collaboration is the key to achieving student success.
What is an Educational Service District?
Educational Service Districts (ESDs) like our employer, Olympic ESD 114, are not school districts. They are organizations that serve large portions of the state and allow school districts to pool their resources to provide services to their students. Those services include safety planning, IT support, mental health services, and special education services.