School Social Workers bring unique professional knowledge, skills and perspective to the school system  and the pupil services team.  School Social Workers are hired by school districts to enhance the district's ability to meet its academic mission, especially where a priority on home/school/community collaboration is key to achieving that mission.  By focusing on the whole welfare of the student, School Social Workers play a central role in assisting schools to work toward breaking down barriers within the school, home, and community which interfere with student achievement.  School Social Workers apply an ecological perspective of school work practice that studies the relationship between people and their environments.

The approach of the School Social Worker is to apply an integrated blend of prevention and intervention strategies which contribute to the overall health and wellness of the student, school, home, and community.  Through the use of assessment, crisis intervention, home visits, conflict resolution, individual and group counseling, consultation, program development, and coordination of school and community services, School Social Workers serve as catalysts to bring people together and to create an environment that is conducive to effective problem solving and learning.    

School Social Workers are trained to help students reduce barriers to their education by employing a wide range of professional strategies to enhance students' learning, growing, and succeeding. 

Information and Resources

 Community Information Directory

 Arranging Counseling

 Information Release Form

Professional Organizations 

School Social Worker Association of America http://www.sswaa.org/

Wisconsin School Social Worker Association http://www.wsswa.org/

Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, School Social Work www.dpi.wi.gov/sspw/socialwork.html