School Social Worker

  • School social workers seek to ensure equitable education opportunities; ensure that students are mentally, physically, and emotionally present in the classroom; and promote respect and dignity for all students.

    National Association of Social Workers   

  • Roles and support in school:

    Social workers provide support to students and classrooms, including individual counseling, group counseling, push-in support, social/emotional skill education and crisis intervention.
     
    Complete social histories for school assessments.
     
    Attend and participate in Committee on Special Education meetings as required.
     
    Link students and families to community resources including financial, food, clothing, housing, furniture, health insurance, medical and dental care, mental health or chemical dependency treatment, and FACT/PINS.
     
    Engage students, staff and families in crisis intervention services with follow up resources.
     
    Communicate daily with building staff to assess student needs and select appropriate interventions.
     
    Collaborate with community and district medical staff and engage in psychiatric consultation services.  
     
    Facilitate individual, group, and crisis counseling.
     
    Consult with district staff to integrate student based behavior management support to improve students’ overall functioning and academic success.

    Services connecting students, families and the community

    Social workers provide holiday assistance to numerous families, coordinating with other school staff and community organizations.
     
    Act as school district representatives for local service organizations.
     
    Network with local community agencies including churches, service clubs and community volunteer organizations to assist families in need.
     
    Assist school districts throughout Monroe County with trauma and grief intervention through utilizing professional resources from the Monroe County Trauma, Illness and Grief (TIG) Network.
     
    Coordination of special opportunities for students such as summer camp referrals to Tim Horton’s Camp, Salvation Army Camp, Kiwanis Camp, etc.

    Click on any of the following links for Additional Resources:

    Hillside Family of Agencies

    Rochester Mobile Crisis Team

    Monroe County Mental Health Association

    Rochester General Behavioral Health Network