State: Minnesota
Brief History of School Social Work in Minnesota: "Education is very highly valued in the state of Minnesota. In our district, since it's in the inner city, we have many school social workers and we are quite highly valued. However, I think we have come a long way. I think we have proved our role so than now more and more people respect our role in the school setting, unlike possibly many years ago when social workers were not quite widely known or appreciated."
Job Description: Provide counseling services to students, facilitate groups for students, work in collaboration with parents and teachers, work with attendance liason, respond to crisis situations, attend individual/parent conferences as needed, participate in mediation process, participate in assessments of special education students, coordinate Basic Standards test preparation and administraion for special needs population, make home visits and assist families when needed.
Degree(s)/Licensure: MSW/LGSW (License in the Graduate level of Social Work). Also, a Teaching License for social workers requirred to make it legal to be in the Minnesota school system.
Skills: Advocator, listener, ability to practice confidentiality, being respectful and caring, good communication skills, being assertive, friendly, kind and patient, good writing skills, computer/web skills, and training in school social work, group facilitating and counseling, as well as, knowledge of such issues as child abuse, suicide, and homelessness.
Key Vocabulary: Advocate (support clientel), IEP (special education, individual educational plan), OHD (other health disorder), E/BD (emotional behavioral disability), DCD (developmental cognitive disorder), LD (learning disability), and ADHD (attention deficit with hyperactivity disorder).
Legal Issues: Laws concerning special education and truancy have helped us [school social workers] with providing services to kids.
State: New York
Job Description: Consists of individual and group counseling, crisis intervention, conflict mediation, home visits, community outreach, supervising an intern, parent group education, making referrals, member of child study team, responsible for social histories, and parent and teacher consultations.
Degree(s)/Licensure: CSW/MSW (Certified Social Worker - must have a MSW and must have passed CSW exam)
Skills: Excellent communication skills, good writing skills, public speaking, knowledge of child development stages, knowledge of clinical counseling, flexibility, knowledge of clinical counseling, flexibility, knowledge of public education, patience, and a great sense of humor.
Key Vocabulary: CST (Child study team), CSE (committe on special education), ADHD (attention deficit with hyperactivity disorder), ERSS (educational related support services), OHI (other health impaired), OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder), and BIP (behavior intervention plan).
Legal Issues: State mandates increased involvement of child in developing a behavior intervention plan (BIP); Able to write grant and awarded $700,000 for district; (She stressed the importance of keeping up with what is going on in Washington DC to avail oneself to grant monies and be included in educational decisions.)
State History: NY was one of the first state to have social workers. They started a visiting teachers during the great depression to deal with outreach for the immigrants and attendance. After social workers proved themselves indispensible, they began to consel students and take on more of a consultative role.
State: Wisconsin
Brief History of School Social Work in Wisconsin: Since school social workers are partially funded by the government in Wisconsin, many school districts are moving guidance counselors into roles as school social workers to fulfill similar duties.
Job Description: Works with students in Pre-Kindergarten through 12th grade in ten different school buildings. This consists of both regular and special education students.
Degree(s)/Licensure: A Masters Degree in Social Work and licensure from the Department of Public Instruction for the state of Wisconsin.
Skills: Good communication (both written and verbal), good listening skills, time management skills, problem solving ability, research skills, and knowledge of special education laws and regulations.
Legal Issues: The reauthorization of IDEA has had a large imact on this position because the school social worker must review all special education paper work to make sure it complies with the law. The change in compulsory attendance law has also had an impact because the number of students involved in truancy has increased.
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Key Vocabulary: Special Education (students who meet the definition provided by the Department of Public Instruction), Behavior Management (skills given to staff and students to manage class behavior), Anger Management (skills given to students to help them manage anger), Social Skills (instruction in skills that all children to become more successful students), Consultation (working with staff and community members to link school, home, and community--allowing a child to be more successful in school), Coordination (working with other staff to manage and organize different activities, such as, parent education and homebound education).