Roles of a School Social Worker

What do School Social Workers do?

  • Social Cultural Assessments: Conduct socio-cultural assessments to determine eligibility under Special Education.

  • Counseling Services:  Provide direct individual and group counseling services, using evidence-based curriculum, to assist students in overcoming barriers to learning.

  • Case Management Services: Serve as liaison between school, home and community in an effort to facilitate the provision of needed services.

  • Restorative Practices: Social Workers are certified to provide the full continuum of Restorative Practices (RP) as a prevention and intervention model to foster school connection, build community, develop emotional literacy and learn conflict resolutions skills.  RP is also used as an alternative to discipline and as a way to address wrong-doings when students or the school community have been harmed.

  • Unified Mental Health Team: School social workers serve as an integral member of school-based mental health teams providing a continuum of prevention and intervention supports and services to address the social, emotional, and behavioral needs of students.

  • Pupil Services Student Support Team: Participate in a multidisciplinary team to support student success. 

  • Crisis Team: Respond to county-wide crises involving staff, students, and the community.

  • Suicide Prevention Services: Social workers are trained in the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale and provide intervention by conducting suicide risk screenings.   

  • Sources of Strength: Social workers are trained adult advisors in the strengths-based youth suicide prevention program. 

  • Psycho-Education: Conduct presentations for students, staff, and parents on suicide prevention, substance abuse prevention, and mental health awareness.

  • Insight: Co-facilitate a three-day substance abuse and early intervention class for students who violate the LCPS alcohol and drug policy. 

  • Attendance: Provide consultation regarding stress, anxiety, mental health, and other barriers to student attendance.  

  • Return to Learn: Facilitate Return to Learn meetings to support students who are transitioning back to school after an extended absence.

  • Homebound Services: Support students receiving Homebound services through parent meetings, consultation, case management and reintegration back to school.

  • Positive Behavior Intervention and Supports (PBIS): Coordinate, support, and coach the implementation of the PBIS framework in all schools to create a positive school climate and to improve behavioral/discipline practices that enhance student learning.

  • Positive Experiences in Educational Relationships (PEER Helper Program):  Assist in training 11th and 12th grade students in empathy skills, listening skills, effective interviewing skills, ethics, and issues of family dynamics, substance use, defense mechanisms, and appropriate boundaries in relationships.

Resources