What is the role of the Social Worker?

 

The School Social Work Services office establishes and supports best practice standards for the more than 60 professional social workers who provide mental health services, formal psychosocial assessments, attendance and truancy intervention, to support students and their families in Pasco County Schools. The practice standards of the National Association of Social Workers and the School Social Work Association of America guide the establishment of practices and procedures for social work delivery in the schools.
 
We assess student/family/school/community needs and develop practice models, staff development activities, and on-going consultation to administrators and staff. These activities empower and support school social workers in effectively interfacing with the students at the schools they serve. 

Additionally, School Social Work Services manages several district wide specialty programs that directly impact and support the academic achievement and eventual high school graduation for the students of Pasco County. Several of these programs are legislatively mandated and/or supported by School Board policies.  These include services to homeless students or students in transition and students living in foster care.

The school social worker functions as a liaison between the school, family, and community, provides intervention, addresses issues of non-attendance and truancy, and provides behavioral assessments, crisis intervention, and consultation in addressing the barriers to student achievement.

 

• 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 the school system and the student services team.

• School Social Workers are trained mental health professionals who can assist with mental health concerns, behavioral concerns, positive behavioral support, academic and classroom support, consultation with teachers, parents and administrators as well as provide individual and group counseling/therapy.  

• School social workers are instrumental in furthering the mission of the schools to provide a setting for teaching, learning, and for the attainment of competence and confidence.

 

School social workers are hired by school districts to enhance the district's ability to meet its academic mission, especially where school, home, and community collaboration is the key to achieving student success.