Autumn Cry-Mark

This article was published in 2023 with research conducted in 2020-2021. The timeline of research is very relevant to the topic of study and the publication date is recent enough to bring new conversations to the table. Research was conducted through 13 online surveys and later reviewed to support the idea that the Covid-19 pandemic negatively influenced the mental health of parents and students. The article also highlights disparities amongst students and families of color that were impacted, compared to white families. This source was created by several scholars from University of Windsor’s School of Social Work. All 13 surveys they reviewed have been cited in the article; many studies related to the research have also been cited. Because the data is quantitative, interviews could be conducted with the families impacted by this to gather information that would support the findings from the surveys. The researchers approached this study with an outside lens, so this would also allow the students and families space to share from their own experience. 

This article directly relates to school counseling for elementary and middle school aged students. This will directly enhance knowledge of the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on students and families and influence the methods used to approach related challenges. This will also help inform engagement with students of color pertaining to mental health concerns following their experiences in online education.

The National Association of Social Workers has a section on their website dedicated to School Social Work. This source was created as a way to share practice tools, professional development opportunities, and policy-related news updates relevant to this field of practice. The page includes various related resources to help inform practice for school counselors and social workers when working to advocate for student success. Although this is a resource created for school social workers, the information found can be relevant to anyone working in school systems.