What is school social work? What do we do? How do you contact us?

The purpose of a School Social Worker or Human Services Professional is to link the home, school and community in providing direct and indirect services to students, families and school personnel to promote and support students’ academic and social success.

The related services include participation in special education assessment meetings as well as Individual Educational Planning meetings. Also, working with those problems that children and their families face in the home environment that affect the child’s performance or adjustment in school and providing referrals or other problems solving ideas. Preparing social or developmental histories and mobilizing family, school and community resources to enable the child to learn as effectively as possible. Lastly, providing assistance in developing positive behavioral intervention strategies for students, this can be done by participating in RTI-B teams, counseling teams or peer review teams.

Services to students can include providing crisis intervention, developing intervention strategies to increase academic success, assisting with conflict resolution and anger management, helping the child develop appropriate social interaction skills, assisting the child in understanding and accepting self and others.

Services to parents/families can include interviewing the family to assess problems affecting the child’s educational adjustment, working with parents to facilitate their support in their children’s school adjustment, alleviate family stress, assisting parents to access programs available on campus and assisting parent in accessing and utilizing school and community resources.

Services to school personnel provide staff with essential information to better understand factors (cultural, societal, economic, familial, health etc.) that may be affecting a student’s performance and behavior, assessing students with mental health concerns, develop staff in-service training programs, assist teachers with behavior management and provide direct support to staff.

School-Community Liaison, obtain and coordinate community resources to meet students’ needs, help school districts receive adequate support from social and mental health agencies, advocate for new and improved community/school service to meet the needs of students and families and help the system respond effectively to each child’s needs.

Lastly, services to districts assist with developing and implementing educational programs for child, identify and reporting child abuse and neglect provide case management for students requiring multiple resources.

Above all and foremost the role of a school Social Worker or Human Services Professional is to be a support to school personnel and a link between home, school and other community resources.

School Social Work Contact Information: (SSW School Assignments and Contact Information)

Karla Yamanoha: karla.yamanoha@k12.hi.us

Office Number: 808-313-3381

Roslyn Panzer: roslyn.panzer@k12.h.us

Office Number: 808-313-4460

Beth Lawson: beth.lawson@k12.hi.us

Office Number: 808-313-3330