We need them!

Blog

This blog discusses new research, new school policy, potential workshops for parents and more topic concerning school social workers and families that are affected by them.
http://www.pas.k12.mn.us/Page/468

This Is Why

This link shows stories illustrating why people became social workers.  Very influential to someone considering the major/career.
http://www.thisiswhy.vcu.edu/archives.html

Testimonial

Career Story:Working in an Urban Elementary School; a testimonial from a worker in the field, gives great tips both good and bad. 

Best and Worst Parts of the Job: The best part is working with the kids and families. The kids are hilarious and very open and energetic. It is nice to be able to spend some fun, positive time with them. The parents are often struggling and are very responsive to support. The hardest part is the scarcity of resources for the things people need. Not enough tutors, not enough affordable after school activities, not enough subsidies for basic needs, housing and utilities. Also it is hard when a child is suffering and a parent is unwilling or unable to help and support them.

Job Tips:
1. Make sure you have personal boundaries with your clients. You will want to rescue them, especially the kids, but there are lots of limits to what you can do and how you can do it.

2. Make sure you have a plan to take care of yourself when you are witnessing hurt, disappointment, injustice and suffering. You need to know how you will take care of yourself and keep doing the work.

3. Make sure you have a good supervisor and good supervision and support. That will help you know you are doing what you can, and get you through the overwhelming parts.

Additional Thoughts: An MSW is a very flexible degree. You can do so many things with so many types of people and organizations. However, the pay is not great.

Limits of Confidentiality

School Social Workers, understand the importance of privacy and developing trusting relationships with their students and their families.  Many interventions occur on an individual basis; at the students home or in a family setting.  However, school social workers have to accept that everything that is said or occurs in a students life cannot be help to absolute confidentiality. This message is necessary to be communicated to the student and their families.
http://www.socialworkers.org/practice/school/cfs0202.asp?back=yes
this site explains why limits of confidentiality is to be communicated with students and family, gives examples also.

Average Income

1. Social workers who specialize in children and family welfare made a median salary of $41,530 in 2012, according to the BLS. The best-paid 10 percent in the field earned $71,000, while the lowest-paid made approximately $26,720
2. .http://money.usnews.com/careers/best-jobs/child-and-family-social-worker

Meeting Students needs

Social Work Trends in PA

Pennsylvania vs National Social Work Employment

PENNSYLVANIA	36,260
NATIONAL	609,060

Of all of the social workers in the country, nearly 6% are in the state of Pennsylvania.

EMPLOYMENT GROWTH FOR SOCIAL WORKERS IN PENNSYLVANIA

34,820	34,120	34,930	35,800	36,260
2006	2007	2008	2009	2010

• YELLOW:ACTUAL VALUES

The number of social workers is growing in Pennsylvania. 1,440 more social workers were working in Pennsylvania in 2010, than there were in 2006. This represents a 4% growth in the field. This growth is slower than the change in the number of social workers around the country. Nationally, the number of social workers has grown by 10% from 2006 to 2010.

School Social Work Certificate:PA

School Social Worker Certification

What is school social work certification?

Legislation seeks to create the category of a "school social worker" in the Pennsylvania School Code. This legislation would update the School Code to include a certification that permits a professional to provide social work services in school districts. In doing so, this bill would clearly define "school social work services." Social work is the only developmental service in the School Code that does not correspond with an education specialist certification category.

The Big Picture:Thesis

School social workers have to take into account more than just students academics.  They look beyond the books and school environment, and into the home and community environments.  Everything is linked together.

where do they practice?

The majority of school social workers are employed by individual schools or districts and work in urban, suburban and rural settings. Some school social workers are hired by community agencies to work within schools. School social workers provide services at all educational levels: pre-school, elementary, middle/junior high and senior high.

found on http://acssw.org/aboutschool.html

Everything Social Work

This website is very informational on school social workers.  It includes updates on news, resources, community and commentary.  http://www.schoolsocialwork.net/

Not just Anyone

Ive always been told social workers have hearts of gold!

role; came across this cute video

This video does a great job illustrating "a day in the life" of a school social work, discussing their roles and duties.

About Me

I am a current student studying social work; not sure what I want my focus to be.  So, I decided to look into school social workers; i've always wanted to work in a youth environment.  Hopefully, while doing some research I will be able to narrow my choices of job fields.

What is it?

 School social workers bring unique knowledge and skills to the school system and the student services team.  School Social Workers are trained in things like mental health concerns, behavioral concerns, positive behavioral support, academic and classroom support, consultation with teachers, parents and administrators as well as with individual and group counseling techniques. School social workers are instrumental in furthering the mission of the schools which is to provide a setting for teaching, learning, and for the attainment of competence and confidence.They see the "big" picture.  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.    http://www.sswaa.org/displaycommon.cfm?an=1&subarticlenbr=1