WHAT IS SOCIAL WORK IN SCHOOLS?

THE ROLE OF A SOCIAL WORKER....

School social workers collaborate and consult with students, families, educators, and the community to identify and overcome barriers to student achievement. School social workers seek to alleviate difficulties that interfere with student learning by providing emotional and behavioral support, crisis prevention and intervention, mental health consultation, and referral to outside agencies. School social workers understand that the home, school, and community are all connected and working collectively with these systems is vital for student success.

The roles of school social workers vary within each school district but often include the following:

• attendance and truancy

• individual and group counseling

• homeless education

• families and students in transition

• abuse and neglect reporting

• special education

• emotional and behavioral support

• mental health and crisis intervention

• assisting families with basic needs

• referring families to outside services and resources

• and collaborating with outside agencies