School social work is a specialized service that assists students with academic learning by providing interventions that identify and address the social-emotional-environmental issues that interfere with the educational process.
Working with parents/guardians, teachers, school principal/principal’s designee, and community-based resources, the school social worker implements strategies that promote students’ positive school adjustment.
Charleston County School District employs licensed Master level social workers from accredited schools of social work education. School social workers have varied backgrounds in Child and Family Welfare, Mental Health, Juvenile Justice, and Public Health, as well as other areas related to children and families. School social workers are governed by the Social Work Code of Ethics, affiliated with the National Association of Social Workers and regulated by the South Carolina Labor and Licensing Board of Examiners.
“School Social Workers are the link between the home, school, and community in providing direct, as well as indirect services to students, families and school personnel to promote and support students' academic and social success.”
School Social Work Association of America
Student/Family Focused Interventions
Develop positive behavior intervention strategies with students
Provide students & families with social emotional support
Participate in 504/IEP/IPS meetings
Assess family needs & link families to resources to help reduce barriers
School Focused Interventions
Serve on MTSS, PBIS, Attendance and other school-teams
Assist and support professional development on behavioral, emotional, developmental, environmental issues that impact student learning
Provide complementary support services (ie counseling/coaching) to existing school-based services
Support with crisis de-escalation and/or risk assessments
Provide psychoeducation on anger management, grief, positive peer relations, academic preparedness, and positive decision-making, etc.
Conduct social-educational skills groups
Community Focused Interventions
Locate available community resources to enable students to receive maximum benefit from the educational program
Encourage support from local resources by partnering with them for school events
Serve as a liaison with community agencies