What is school social work?
Supporting students. Strengthening families. Connecting schools and communities.
School social workers help remove barriers that may interfere with a student's ability to attend school, learn, and succeed. By connecting the school, home, and community, school social work services address both academic and nonacademic factors that affect student success.
What does a school social worker do?
School social workers provide prevention, intervention, advocacy, and support services to students and families. Services may include:
- Attendance support and intervention
- Crisis intervention and student support
- McKinney-Vento services for students experiencing homelessness or housing instability
- Foster care support and educational stability
- Referrals to community resources and agencies
- Assistance with basic needs, including clothing, food, hygiene items, and other resources
- Collaboration with parents, teachers, administrators, counselors, and community providers
- Support for students experiencing social, emotional, behavioral, or family challenges
- Assessment of barriers that may interfere with attendance, academic achievement, or school engagement
- Prevention and early-intervention services
Our Approach
School social work recognizes that attendance concerns, behavior, academic difficulties, and disengagement may be signs of challenges occurring within the student's school, home, or community environment.
Rather than focusing only on the presenting concern, school social workers work to identify and address underlying barriers while building upon the strengths of students and families.
Through assessment, advocacy, crisis intervention, prevention, and coordination of community services, school social workers help create conditions that allow students to be successful at school.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a school social worker?
A school social worker is a trained professional who serves as a link between the student, family, school, and community. School social workers provide specialized assessment, intervention, advocacy, and resource coordination to support students who may be experiencing barriers to educational success.
Do school social workers only address attendance?
No. Attendance remains an important component of school social work, but services extend well beyond attendance. School social workers may assist with family needs, housing instability, foster care, mental health and behavioral concerns, crisis situations, community resources, and other circumstances affecting a student's educational experience.
Does a school social worker need certification in Georgia?
Yes. School social workers serving in Georgia public schools must meet applicable Georgia Professional Standards Commission certification requirements.
Who can contact the school social worker?
Students, parents and guardians, teachers, administrators, and other school personnel may contact the school social worker when a student or family may benefit from additional support.
Need Assistance?
If your family is experiencing housing instability, difficulty with school attendance, a crisis, or another barrier affecting your child's education, please contact School Social Work Services.