March 1-7, 2015 school social workers around the United States are celebrated during national social work week,.
If the only task of teachers was to teach the three R's, their jobs would be easy. But as we know, many factors conspire to make it difficult for some young people to make it through school—among them, poverty, substance abuse, community violence, early sexual activity and family conflicts.
School social workers pick up where teachers leave off. They are perhaps the professionals best equipped to address the social and psychological issues that can block academic progress. Through counseling, crisis intervention and prevention programs, they help young people overcome the difficulties in their lives, and as a result, give them a better chance at succeeding in school.
About 5% of the nation’s approximately half a million social workers work in the schools, primarily in public school settings. Besides helping youth with traditional academic problems, social workers aid others whose specific social, psychological, emotional or physical difficulties put them at risk for falling through the cracks. These include homeless youth, gay and lesbian youth and young people with physical or mental health disabilities.
Recently we asked Michigan school social workers to give one piece of advice they would give to new professionals looking to enter the field. This is some of their responses:
“Learn how to work with teachers” - Jacalyn, Sault Sainte Marie
“Know the new policies impacting schools” - Angela, Sault Sainte Marie
“Volunteer for a school/district you want to work for” - Diana, Detroit
“Make sure to remember to take care of yourself” - Mac, Lindon
“Stay calm and keep your peace” - Kathleen, Southfield
“Be a multi-tasker” - Cheryl, Southfield
“Be enthusiastic about what you are doing” - Amber, Ann Arbor
“Be patient” - Theresa, Muskegon
“It’s rewarding” - Robin, Southfield
“Be flexible” - Rida, Kalamazoo
“Be willing”- Theresa, Kalamazoo
“Always show respect to every person at a school (administration, teachers, bus drivers)” - Tara, Houghton
“Never give up on advocating” - Sherrie, Muskegon
“Learn it, Live it, Teach it.” - Leslie, Macomb
“Know how to do an FBA and a BIP” - Paige, Macomb
“Don’t take things personally” - Kimberly, Ottawa County
“Find ways to do self-care”, “there is help for everyone” - Tonya, Melvindale
“Use your intuition and follow your heart”- Stephanie, Lansing
“Have a high frustration tolerance; the system is not always made for social workers” - Candi, Detroit
“Form boundaries with staff and students” - Nicole, Royal Oak
“Ask for help when you need it!” - Laurie, Port Huron
“Get other outside experience first” - Debra, Van Buren
“Talk to other school social workers” - Beverly, Retired
“Know yourself inside and out, and know your personality type” - Amy, Ionia
5 NASW School Social Work Resources
1. Social Workers in Schools Occupational Profile - School social workers play a critical role in schools and educational settings. Social workers working within school systems provide services to students to enhance their emotional well-being and improve their academic performance. School social workers are usually employed by the school district or an agency that is contracted with the school district to provide services. School social workers are often called on to help students, families, and teachers address problems such as truancy, social withdrawal, overaggressive behaviors, rebelliousness, and the effects of special physical, emotional, or economic problems (Barker, 2003). School social workers often also address issues such as substance abuse and sexuality issues in the higher grade levels. http://bit.ly/1Bgq9jz
2. NASW Standards for School Social Work Services - School social work is a complex and specialized field of practice that is affected by changes in education policy, research, and practice models that continue to evolve. NASW has developed the Standards for School Social Work Services to meet the changing needs of school social workers, the clients they serve, and local education agencies. NASW has revised these standards to reflect the values of our profession and current practice trends. http://bit.ly/1DfQDiy
3. Join the School Social Work Specialty Practice Section with the National NASW. http://bit.ly/1DOKP0O
4. Children & Schools publishes professional materials relevant to social work services for children. The journal publishes articles on innovations in practice, interdisciplinary efforts, research, program evaluation, policy, and planning. Topics include student-authority relationships, multiculturalism, early intervention, needs assessment, violence, and ADHD. Children & Schools is a practitioner-to-practitioner resource. http://bit.ly/1LzzioL
5. Featured practice tools, including articles on: (http://bit.ly/17rYNJx)
If the only task of teachers was to teach the three R's, their jobs would be easy. But as we know, many factors conspire to make it difficult for some young people to make it through school—among them, poverty, substance abuse, community violence, early sexual activity and family conflicts.
School social workers pick up where teachers leave off. They are perhaps the professionals best equipped to address the social and psychological issues that can block academic progress. Through counseling, crisis intervention and prevention programs, they help young people overcome the difficulties in their lives, and as a result, give them a better chance at succeeding in school.
About 5% of the nation’s approximately half a million social workers work in the schools, primarily in public school settings. Besides helping youth with traditional academic problems, social workers aid others whose specific social, psychological, emotional or physical difficulties put them at risk for falling through the cracks. These include homeless youth, gay and lesbian youth and young people with physical or mental health disabilities.
Recently we asked Michigan school social workers to give one piece of advice they would give to new professionals looking to enter the field. This is some of their responses:
“Learn how to work with teachers” - Jacalyn, Sault Sainte Marie
“Know the new policies impacting schools” - Angela, Sault Sainte Marie
“Volunteer for a school/district you want to work for” - Diana, Detroit
“Make sure to remember to take care of yourself” - Mac, Lindon
“Stay calm and keep your peace” - Kathleen, Southfield
“Be a multi-tasker” - Cheryl, Southfield
“Be enthusiastic about what you are doing” - Amber, Ann Arbor
“Be patient” - Theresa, Muskegon
“It’s rewarding” - Robin, Southfield
“Be flexible” - Rida, Kalamazoo
“Be willing”- Theresa, Kalamazoo
“Always show respect to every person at a school (administration, teachers, bus drivers)” - Tara, Houghton
“Never give up on advocating” - Sherrie, Muskegon
“Learn it, Live it, Teach it.” - Leslie, Macomb
“Know how to do an FBA and a BIP” - Paige, Macomb
“Don’t take things personally” - Kimberly, Ottawa County
“Find ways to do self-care”, “there is help for everyone” - Tonya, Melvindale
“Use your intuition and follow your heart”- Stephanie, Lansing
“Have a high frustration tolerance; the system is not always made for social workers” - Candi, Detroit
“Form boundaries with staff and students” - Nicole, Royal Oak
“Ask for help when you need it!” - Laurie, Port Huron
“Get other outside experience first” - Debra, Van Buren
“Talk to other school social workers” - Beverly, Retired
“Know yourself inside and out, and know your personality type” - Amy, Ionia
5 NASW School Social Work Resources
1. Social Workers in Schools Occupational Profile - School social workers play a critical role in schools and educational settings. Social workers working within school systems provide services to students to enhance their emotional well-being and improve their academic performance. School social workers are usually employed by the school district or an agency that is contracted with the school district to provide services. School social workers are often called on to help students, families, and teachers address problems such as truancy, social withdrawal, overaggressive behaviors, rebelliousness, and the effects of special physical, emotional, or economic problems (Barker, 2003). School social workers often also address issues such as substance abuse and sexuality issues in the higher grade levels. http://bit.ly/1Bgq9jz
2. NASW Standards for School Social Work Services - School social work is a complex and specialized field of practice that is affected by changes in education policy, research, and practice models that continue to evolve. NASW has developed the Standards for School Social Work Services to meet the changing needs of school social workers, the clients they serve, and local education agencies. NASW has revised these standards to reflect the values of our profession and current practice trends. http://bit.ly/1DfQDiy
3. Join the School Social Work Specialty Practice Section with the National NASW. http://bit.ly/1DOKP0O
4. Children & Schools publishes professional materials relevant to social work services for children. The journal publishes articles on innovations in practice, interdisciplinary efforts, research, program evaluation, policy, and planning. Topics include student-authority relationships, multiculturalism, early intervention, needs assessment, violence, and ADHD. Children & Schools is a practitioner-to-practitioner resource. http://bit.ly/1LzzioL
5. Featured practice tools, including articles on: (http://bit.ly/17rYNJx)
- Graduation or Incarceration? How School Discipline Policies Shape the Path for Vulnerable Students
- Shining a Light on the Dark Side of Adolescence
- Call the Principal, Not the Police: Preventing the School to Prison Pipeline
- The School Social Worker in Crisis Situations: The Right Skills, The Right Professional
- Social Work Services with Parents
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