- The No Child Left Behind Act puts pressure on school districts and teachers to meet needs of students who are disadvantaged and to improve overall academic achievement of these students. (Diehl & Frey, 2008, p. 2)
- Both parents and teachers saw improvements in behavior of students who received school social work services for problem behaviors. (Diehl & Frey, 2008, p. 11)
- In schools today, children are faced with many developmental, social, and emotional issues which directly affect their readiness to learn and to adjust to school. Family’s of students also are facing increased pressure and changing economic conditions. This makes school social workers essential. (Diehl & Frey, 2008, p. 1-2)
- Within the school reform movement, social workers roles in schools are validated by the fact that there is evidence that school social workers reduce behaviors in students that interfere with normal school adjustment. (Diehl & Frey, 2008, p. 17)
- The social worker’s aid in reducing poor behaviors have been linked to decreases in special education placement, violence, alcohol and drug use, teen pregnancy, school dropout, school behavior problems, and poor classroom performance/attendance. (Diehl & Frey, 2008, p. 17)
- Generally, services provided by school social workers include reducing risk factors associated with problem behaviors, case management, counseling (includes individual, group, and family), student and family assessment, and school/teacher consultation. (Diehl & Frey, 2008, p. 3)
- Many of the problems student’s today face have associations with the community surrounding them. Therefore, schools, including school social workers, AND community organizations must work together to address the problems not only students are facing, but their families and their communities as well. (Diehl & Frey, 2008, p. 17)
References:
Diehl, D., & Frey, A. (2008). Evaluating a Community-School Model of Social Work Practice. School Social Work Journal, 32(2), 2-17.