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School Social Work Week 2022
by Rebecca K. Oliver, LMSW, CSW
School social work is a profession with a rich history. School social workers have been in schools since the early 1900s. “School social workers have been providing services to remove barriers to learning that impede children’s ability to access and benefit from education for over a century” (Constable, 2009). Each year, the first full week of March marks School Social Work Week. This is a designated week to celebrate the professionals called school social workers.
The week of March 6-12, 2022, gives individuals and school communities the opportunity to celebrate the rich history and deep contributions of school social work professionals. The School Social Work Association of America’s theme for School Social Work Week 2022 is Time to Shine.
Who Are School Social Workers?
School social workers are trained mental health professionals with a degree in social work who provide services related to a person's social, emotional, and life adjustment to school and/or society. School social workers are the link between the home, school, and community in providing direct and indirect services to students, families, and school personnel to promote and support students' academic and social/emotional/behavioral success. School social workers are instrumental in furthering the mission of the schools, which is to provide a setting for teaching, learning, and 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 home, school, and community collaboration is the key to achieving student success. (See https://www.sswaa.org/school-social-work.)
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 Uniquely Trained
What is so unique about school social work? Highly qualified school social workers have a master’s degree in social work. Social work practice is firmly grounded in ethical standards that guide the professional’s practice and conduct. These ethical standards are infused with the values of social work, which include service, social justice, dignity and worth of the person, importance of human relationships, integrity, and competence. Delivering services in a culturally competent way is also a hallmark of social work practice. (For more information on social work ethics and values, see: https://www.socialworkers.org/About/Ethics/Code-of-Ethics/Code-of-Ethics-English)
School Social Workers Offer a Unique Perspective
School social workers complete rigorous coursework in their education, including theoretical and philosophical approaches that ground and inform their practice. School social workers believe that when working with individuals and families, one should use a strengths perspective to identify strengths and capitalize on those strengths to inform the work. Additionally, school social work uses an ecological perspective or person-in-environment theory. The Encyclopedia of Social Work defines this as follows:
The person-in-environment perspective in social work is a practice-guiding principle that highlights the importance of understanding an individual and individual behavior in light of the environmental contexts in which that person lives and acts. (Kondrat, 2013)
Both of these perspectives equip school social workers to contribute to the work of the educational system in a unique way.
School Social Workers View Situations Through a Unique Lens
When considering a student’s or family’s situation, school social workers are especially attuned to issues of social justice, including poverty, access to services, diversity, discrimination, and other social justice issues. School social workers are agents of change and seek to challenge injustices, establish more equitable practices in schools, and advocate for those who do not have a voice. “Social workers must take action against oppression, racism, discrimination, and inequities, and acknowledge personal privilege” (NASW, 2021).
School Social Workers Offer a Unique Service
A school’s mission has been primarily to educate students in reading, writing, arithmetic, science, history, and the arts. However, in recent years, emphasis has also been placed on the whole child development and the importance of the social, emotional, and behavioral well-being, as well as the mental health of a child. School social workers, alongside other specialized instructional support personnel (school counselors, school psychologists, and school nurses), provide services to promote healthy development of the social, emotional, and behavioral aspects of a youth. School social workers work from a perspective that acknowledges familial, environmental, and community factors that may create barriers to a student’s success. School social workers serve as a link between the home, school, and community, working to remove barriers, engage families, and identify needed resources for students.
In light of current social issues, including the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the continuation of social injustices, and the barriers faced by many students and families, The School Social Work Association of America (SSWAA) believes that this moment in history is the time for school social workers to shine. (See https://www.sswaa.org/school-social-work-week.) School social workers shine hope! School social workers shine understanding! School social workers shine respect!
Shine on, school social workers! Shine on! #TimetoShine #SSWWeek2022
References
Constable, R. (2009). The role of the school social worker. In Massat, C.R., Constable, R., McDonald, S., & Flynn, J. P. (Eds.), School social work: Practice, policy, and research (7th ed., pp. 3-29). Lyceum Books.
Kondrat, M. E. (2013). Person-in-environment. In Encyclopedia of Social Work. https://oxfordre.com/socialwork/view/10.1093/acrefore/9780199975839.001.0001/acrefore-9780199975839-e-285
NASW. (2021). NASW code of ethics. https://www.socialworkers.org/About/Ethics/Code-of-Ethics/Code-of-Ethics-English
Rebecca K. Oliver, LMSW, CSW, has more than 20 years experience as a school social worker before taking her current position as Executive Director of the School Social Work Association of America (SSWAA). Oliver is committed to the profession and is an ardent proponent of raising the visibility of school social workers and their positive impact on students, families, and school communities.