About Us
Colorado School Social Work
School social workers are one of the few resources in schools for addressing personal and social problems that potentially inhibit a student’s ability to learn. There are nearly 10,000 school social workers in the United States today, and approximately 400 in Colorado, who realize that students who are hungry, sick, or worried about their families cannot achieve as well in school as students who do not have these concerns. School social workers, like many Americans, are concerned about the growing social problems affecting our youth–including substance abuse, teen pregnancy, HIV infection, suicide, abuse and neglect, and family violence. As a critical link between the school, the family, and the community, school social workers help make these environments more beneficial to students.
- School social workers provide a range of services including:
- Assessment and diagnosis of students for special education services;
- Individual and/or group counseling with students experiencing mental health or social difficulties;
- Setting up student assistance programs and providing supports for all students;
- Crisis intervention;
- Encouraging parent participation through phone contacts and home visits with parents who are overburdened;
- Navigation of systems and accessing resources for students and their families; and,
- Collaborating with teachers.
In the context of group work, school social workers run counseling groups for students and work in classrooms. They may also offer support for struggling parents or facilitate staff meetings designed to encourage school change. Overall, school social workers are viewed as experts in understanding human behavior, mental health issues, relationships, and interventions. They focus on individual strengths and connect students, families, and communities to resources that foster success and achievement.
As a subcommittee of the Colorado Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW), our goals are as follows:
S
Support increased visibility of the School Social Work profession and the needed services we provide to all students. T Train new Social Workers in the skills needed to be a School Social Worker, and increase their awareness of this career path by offering School Social Work classes and field placement opportunities through the area MSW programs. U Understand the needs of the communities and create/promote programs to meet these needs within educational settings. D Demonstrate the skills and services that School Social Workers bring to the schools in assisting all children to learn and reach their potential, and in facilitating the National Education goals. E Educate the community, school administrators, and legislators in the vital role and services of School Social Workers through dialogue, pamphlets, website, visibility strategies and lobbying. N Network with School Social Workers and other mental health professionals across Colorado to provide support, information sharing, profession building and communication around significant issues. T Teach colleagues about advances in the field, issues and programs available, through the publication of newsletters and the development of an annual regional conference. S Support the School Social Work profession through representation and association with Colorado NASW and NASW National and the School Social Work Section, the School Specialists Licensure Committee with the Colorado Department of Education, Colorado School Mental Health Alliance, Western Alliance of School Social Workers, and School Social Work Association of America.