Washoe County School District recently issued the following announcement.
The Washoe County School District (WCSD) will celebrate National School Social Work Week from March 6 through March 12, applauding the life-saving work of the mental health professionals whose work supports students and staff members across the District. The event is sponsored by School Social Work Association of America, and the theme for 2022 is “Time to Shine.”
School social workers are highly qualified, highly trained, and licensed District employees who have earned a master’s degree in social work. Working in partnership with other school professionals including school psychologists, nurses, counselors, clinical interns, and behavior experts, more than 50 WCSD social workers, mental health professionals, and Safe School Professionals (SSPs) provide critical resources to support the health and well-being of students. They are experts in the field of mental and behavioral health who address the individual needs and strengths of students and provide group support. SSPs link students and families with health resources that strengthen student readiness for academic and behavioral success.
The WCSD Board of Trustees will hear a presentation about the critical importance of school social workers and how their work directly relates to student achievement at its regular public meeting on March 8.
“The challenges our students, families, and staff have faced over the past two years have been monumental, and I am grateful to our school social workers whose support has played such an important role in helping us begin to recover and move forward from the effects of the pandemic,” said WCSD Superintendent Dr. Kristen McNeill. “They create crucial links between home and school, providing vital tools that continue to help our District family adapt and cope with the many changes that have taken place. Our social workers collaborate with their peers to ensure our students and families have wraparound services that provide help and support. Their expertise is sorely needed, and they work hard to help our students and families grow and thrive in our community.”
School social workers also help students identify and address issues that stand as barriers to their overall success and they provide resources to students who are developing social and emotional skills.
“School social workers shine a light on the need for mental health related services for our students and families,” said Katherine Loudon, counseling coordinator for the WCSD. “They then actionably address barriers. I could not be more proud of our school social work team and I look forward to adding more school social workers to our WCSD staff.”
For more information about the mission of school social workers and the national celebration, visit https://www.sswaa.org/school-social-work-week
Original source can be found here.
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