Additional Information Related to School Social Work

School social workers are the link between home, school, and community. As members of the educational team comprised of teachers, administrators, pupil services staff, and parents, school social workers promote and support students' academic and social success by providing specialized services that include:

• individual and group counseling
• support groups for students and parents
• crisis prevention and intervention
• home visits
• social-developmental assessments
• parent education and training
• professional case management
• information and referral
• collaboration with other pupil services professionals
• collaboration with community agencies and organizations
• advocacy for students, parents, and the school system
• administration and supervision of pupil services programs
• coordination of programs such as Early Start, mentoring, school-to-work, and peer counseling
• staff development
• policy development such as discipline and attendance policies
• Services provided by school social workers are an efficient and effective educational investment. School social workers:
• reduce the number of school dropouts
• develop intervention strategies that prevent school violence
• help ensure appropriate special education placements
• facilitate cooperative interagency agreements
• provide case management services that coordinate service delivery for students with multiple needs
• prevent costly litigation by mediating disputes between students, parents, and school systems
• Relationship to School Counselors and School Psychologists

School social workers focus on family and community factors that influence learning. They provide intensive services for students facing multiple risk factors. Together with counselors and psychologists, school social workers provide counseling and mental health services. In addition, counselors provide academic and career-related guidance, and psychologists focus on special learning and behavior problems.

More than 30 states require school social work certification by the state's educational agency. Public schools in Washington require certification for any person working in a "certified" school position. These positions are posted under many titles: school social worker, counselor, intervention specialist, family support specialist, etc. Some Washington school districts also post classified positions that do not require an MSW or state certification. These positions are usually titled "family support worker" and pay considerably less than certified positions.