How a Social Worker can help your family
Individual supports
A social worker can provide a range of supports for children, from periodic check-ins to specialized therapy, depending on what individual children need.
Group support
A social worker also meets with students in small groups based on shared needs.
Parent contact
SDoL recognizes that easing burdens on families can allow students to concentrate on school, rather than pressures at home. Sometimes, a social worker will contact parents to learn more about what, if any, barriers to learning students are facing outside of the classroom.
Home visits
Time spent with families in their homes can help a social worker understand their unique challenges and devise plans to help overcome them.
Community referrals
As School Social Workers and Licensed Professional Counselors, the social worker can direct students and their families to other community agencies that can help with some of these family issues, like mental health, nutrition, job searches, income support and addiction.
Agency transition
A social worker will help students who may spend time in a specialized program, such as the Buehrle Alternative School, transition into the new program and, when appropriate, transition back into their home schools.
What to know about working with a social worker
They serve entire families. These professionals are not just in the schools to meet student needs. They want to know your personal and family goals. They are here to make your entire family a success!
Their work is confidential. A social worker is either a licensed social worker bound by the National Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics or a licensed professional counselor bound by the American Counseling Association Code of Ethics and adheres to a code of ethics that includes guidelines on confidentiality. Typically, a social worker will not share the substance of their conversations with students and families with anyone else—including other school personnel.
They can support students to attend school regularly. Issues at home can become a major barrier to students’ attendance at school. A social worker can address those barriers and reassure students that it is ok to be in school. That can go a long way toward helping a child succeed.