OCDSB SCHOOL SOCIAL WORKERS
Who are School Social Workers?
School social workers work from a perspective that acknowledges the links between a student’s home, school, and community life. School social workers intervene directly with students, parents, and school staff to resolve / manage a range of social, emotional, and mental health issues affecting school performance.
School social workers provide a range of services including direct intervention, crisis intervention, consultation, assessment, and prevention.
School Social Workers are professionals who hold a Master’s degree in Social Work (M.S.W.).
Professional Affiliations
Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers.
Ontario Association of Counselling and Attendance Services
What do School Social Workers do?
School social workers understand the psychosocial factors that contribute to optimum learning in order to help students stay in school and be successful learners.
Assessment
Assess the strengths and needs of students within the context of school, family and community
Provide psycho-social assessments for systems class placements & Care and Treatment applications.
Direct Intervention
Provide counselling to high risk students, families and groups to resolve issues affecting school performance
Address trauma issues with students and families
Address attendance/truancy as mandated under the Education Act
Provide outreach to students and families
Facilitate access to resources for students and families in need
Offer classroom, staff and parent presentations to promote social-emotional health
Consultations
Collaborate with teachers, parents and administration to find effective solutions to learning and behavioural exceptionalities
Work as members of the school multidisciplinary teams
Work with community partners to plan coordinated services that will benefit students and families
Provide innovative approaches to building positive school culture
Crisis Intervention
Help students, families and schools manage crises such as death, illness, or community trauma
Provide immediate response as part of Tragic Events Team
Conduct risk assessments
Conduct threat assessments
Assessments re: harm to self or others and provide intervention and access Urgent Care Protocol with CHEO as needed
Prevention
Develop and implement programs for students, parents and school staff to promote a safe and caring school environment (Roots of Empathy, Second Step, Anti-Bullying initiatives, ASIST, social skills, Collaborative Problem Solving, Restorative Practices, etc). Collaborate with community partners in the delivery of specialized programs (ie. violence prevention programs and healthy relationships).