Tuesday, March 2, 2021
Be sure to take a moment next week to give an added “thank you” to your school social workers for all they do in helping students and the community. School social work week represents a time to recognize the incredible work of those in the profession.
This challenging year, as every year, school social workers have led the way in fostering connections with and amongst students, staff, families, and community members to turn new challenges into new opportunities. School social workers do not look to place blame for a problem but instead ask, “How can I help?”
School social work is a specialized area of practice within the broad field of the social work profession. School social workers bring unique knowledge and skills to apply social work theory, frameworks, and models to a school setting. They are masters-level trained mental health professionals who can assist with mental health concerns, behavioral concerns, classroom support, coaching and consultation with teachers, parents, and administrators, as well as provide individual and group counseling and systems work. School social workers empower students and families to remove barriers to learning that often stem from outside the school building. Their training includes specialized preparation in cultural and linguistic responsive practices, trauma-sensitive schools, restorative justice, resilience building, social and emotional wellness, systems theory, social justice, risk assessment and intervention, and crisis support.
In honor of School Social Work Week, you can show your appreciation to school social workers by sending them a personalized note, adding a blurb to a newsletter, or having students and staff create cards.
As a reminder, eligible school districts, private schools, and independent charter schools can receive reimbursement for specific expenditures on social workers. The deadline for reimbursement for the 2019-20 school year is Friday, March 12.
Subscriber Submission: DPI School Social Work Consultant DPI Julie Incitti, MSW, CAPSW