District Social Worker
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MISSION
The District Social Worker facilitates the educational and individual potential of students by providing services that promote school success. The primary goal is to help remove barriers to learning and address issues that may affect the well-being of the student, both in and out of school.
VISION
Every student will learn and achieve at his/her full potential.
PRINCIPLES
The District Social Worker will collaborate and consult with students, parents, school administrators, faculty, and the community in the identification of family and student concerns to provide supportive services.
The District Social Worker will respect the individual differences of children and families.
Social Workers develop relationships with students and families to facilitate the desired changes identified by the student, family, and school.
SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE
The practice of Social Work focuses on helping parents and students find effective ways to resolve problems. These problems may significantly interfere with a student’s academic achievement and or social adjustment. Students can be referred for some of the following reasons:
- School adjustment/academic issues
- Home adjustment issues
- Personal adjustment issues
- Community adjustment issues
A student may refer himself or herself for social work assessment and intervention, as well as being referred by a parent, legal guardian, school personnel or others familiar with the student. The District Social Worker is a key staff member charged with increasing parent involvement and teaching parents how to assist in their children’s education.
SERVICE DELIVERY
Social Workers are charged to analyze barriers to learning and achievement and develop and implement strategies that address and eliminate identified barriers to student learning. While school goals and objectives are educational, schools also need to acknowledge that achievement is linked to broad aspects of student health, well-being and other affective needs. For example, a student’s ability to learn is significantly affected by abuse, physical or health needs, depression, substance, abuse, or a school climate that induces fear.
Social Workers help students to:
- Increase academic success
- Improve interpersonal relationships
- Connect students and families with community resources
- Develop self-discipline
- Learn problem-solving and decision-making skills
- Resolve conflicts without violence
- Improve school attendance
- Remain in school and graduate
What may be successful in a rural community may not necessarily work in an urban region and thus maximum competency results will be viewed based on the particular environment.